Match ends, Braintree Town 1, Luton Town 2.
Braintree Town 1-2 Luton Town
- From the section Conference
Paul Benson scored one goal and made another as Luton moved to second in the table by winning at Braintree.
Benson opened the scoring by tapping home a rebound after Andy Parry's shot had been cleared off the line.
Andre Gray, who had been involved in the first goal, came close just before Benson set up Parry for the second.
Dan Holman immediately pulled one back with a deflected shot from the edge of the area but Luton held on in their fifth consecutive away match.
The Hatters play their sixth successive game away from Kenilworth Road when they visit Chester this Saturday.
They move a point above third-placed Kidderminster in the table while Braintree are one point outside the play-off zone.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Luton Town manager John Still told BBC Three Counties Radio:
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"The conditions were not good for both teams. The first half we were not in too much danger.
"We're 2-0 up and I thought, 'yeah, we're looking strong'.
"They get a deflection and it changes the pattern of the game a bit and we lose two experienced players in Steve McNulty and Paul Benson.
"The boys had to stand up and they did and they showed the will to win. When we needed a bit of help the supporters got behind us.
"I would put that down as one of our best all-round performances of the season."
Line-ups
Braintree
- 20Hamann
- 19Wells
- 5Paine
- 14Carney
- 11SparkesSubstituted forDaleyat 61'minutes
- 4Isaac
- 26MulleySubstituted forEnver-Marumat 84'minutes
- 8Davis
- 9Marks
- 2Peters
- 22CoxSubstituted forHolmanat 61'minutes
Substitutes
- 10Holman
- 21Griffiths
- 12Daley
- 1McDonald
- 18Enver-Marum
Luton
- 1Tyler
- 25Henry
- 5McNultySubstituted forStevensonat 62'minutes
- 11Howells
- 12Griffiths
- 30Lacey
- 14ParryBooked at 66mins
- 4Smith
- 7Lawless
- 27Gray
- 26BensonSubstituted forCullenat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 13Cullen
- 22Whalley
- 16Justham
- 21Guttridge
- 28Stevenson
- Referee:
- Justin Amey
- Attendance:
- 1,518
Match Stats
Home TeamBraintreeAway TeamLuton
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home3
- Away10
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Braintree Town 1, Luton Town 2.
Attempt saved. Luke Daley (Braintree Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Attempt missed. Dean Wells (Braintree Town) header from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Chez Isaac.
Corner, Braintree Town.
Attempt blocked. Dan Holman (Braintree Town) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt saved. Dan Holman (Braintree Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Substitution
Substitution, Braintree Town. Liam Enver-Marum replaces James Mulley.
Foul by Alex Lacey (Luton Town).
Matthew Paine (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.
Foul by Kenny Davis (Braintree Town).
Mark Cullen (Luton Town) wins a free kick.
Foul by Matthew Paine (Braintree Town).
Mark Cullen (Luton Town) wins a free kick.
Attempt missed. Matthew Paine (Braintree Town) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Luke Daley with a cross.
Corner, Braintree Town.
Offside, Luton Town. Mark Cullen tries a through ball, but Mark Cullen is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Dan Holman (Braintree Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Mark Cullen replaces Paul Benson.
Goal!
Goal! Braintree Town 1, Luton Town 2. Dan Holman (Braintree Town).
Booking
Andrew Parry (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Goal!
Goal! Braintree Town 0, Luton Town 2. Andrew Parry (Luton Town).
Corner, Luton Town.
Attempt missed. Jonathan Smith (Luton Town) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box. Assisted by Jake Howells.
Corner, Luton Town.
Attempt blocked. Andre Gray (Luton Town) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Andre Gray with a cross.
Offside, Luton Town. Andre Gray tries a through ball, but Andre Gray is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Jim Stevenson replaces Steve McNulty.
Substitution
Substitution, Braintree Town. Dan Holman replaces Jordan Cox.
Substitution
Substitution, Braintree Town. Luke Daley replaces Daniel Sparkes.
Attempt missed. Chez Isaac (Braintree Town) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Foul by Scott Griffiths (Luton Town).
Sean Marks (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.
Foul by Daniel Sparkes (Braintree Town).
Jonathan Smith (Luton Town) wins a free kick.
Foul by Paul Benson (Luton Town).
Dean Wells (Braintree Town) wins a free kick.
Second Half
Second Half begins Braintree Town 0, Luton Town 1.
Half Time
First Half ends, Braintree Town 0, Luton Town 1.
Corner, Braintree Town.