The biggest crowd of the Blue Square season saw United ease clear at the top of the table with a win over Luton Town. A game that fully lived up to its billing saw a missed penalty and two early goals for The U's, a sending off for the Hatters, and confirmation if any were needed that this time United mean business.

With kick off delayed to allow the huge crowd to fully assemble (and to be honest even with the delay there were still hundreds trying to get in) there was a superb atmosphere and within three minutes the roof had been blown off as United earned a penalty. the excellent Clist fed Constable who twisted but found Rossi Jarvis too tight. The defender upended the striker and ref Malone pointed straight to the spot. Instant  drama as Keeper Tyler plunged to his right and parried Constable's spot kick.

Luton's fans celebrated wildly but with pefect timing United seized the ball and Matt Green surged past Shane Blackett just in front of the all-singing away contingent. His cross was low and true and Constable, the villain thirty seconds earlier, was the hero as he steered the ball expertly home. The roof had only just settled back into its moorings when it was blasted skywards again.

1-0 up and with thousands roaring them on United did the dirty work and blocked two good Luton chances in the first ten minutes with Batt and Creighton making vital blocks, then clinched the game with a quite magnificent goal from the returning Cook. Having just sent one defender five yards the wrong way with one outrageous dummy  the cross was returned to him on the edge of the box and he sold another then absolutely smashed a left footed shot past the astonished Tyler to mark his return in the best possible style. A wonderful goal, simple as that.

Luton's fans were not amused and started to test the safety netting but their problems were largely on the pitch where their defence looked porous and was struggling to cope wth the different threats posed by Constable, Cook and Green. They did have chances which Alan White and Blackett blazed over and then White glanced wide, which will have worried Chris Wilder but didn't unduly worry Ryan Clarke.

Simon Clist had a chance right on half time that was well blocked after a flowing move, but the contrast between the fans said it all: United fans rose to their feet, Luton fans sent a chorus of boos to follow their team towards the dressing rooms. 

The Hatters raised their game as the second half opened and it needed another good block  from Foster to stop a Craddock shot, but on 56 Luton's frustration went too far and they were down to ten men. Green sprinted from his own box and was heading for clear space in the Luton half until Kevin Nicholls cynically slid across him and brought him down. It was poorly judged at best and ref Malone was right on the spot to show Nicholls a straight red card.

Somehow that galvanised the visitors into action and Ryan Clarke suddenly had to make a fantastic double save to keep out two chances from Craddock from point blank range on 61 minutes.

It proved a last hurrah in many ways as United then started to take the sting out of the game, knock the ball around to make the ten men work, and use the extra space intelligently. Adam Chapman forced Tyler into one more save but by then it was a foregone conclusion and United had doen their jobs.

A great win and daylight is starting to open up at the top as United stay unbeaten. A crowd of over 10,000, a wonderful night for the fans to enjoy, and United are five points clear. And the best thing? We reckon that 10, 613 can be beaten. Do yourself a favour and book those Boxing Day tickets right now.

Att: 10,613

Away: 2,331

Report by Chris Williams

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