League One: Luton Town 3 Doncaster Rovers 1

Jamie Donley scored a clinical second half double as Luton won a third successive match by defeating Doncaster Rovers 3-1 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The hosts made two changes for the contest, labelled as the toughest of the trio by manager Jack Wilshere beforehand, Callum Marshall in after his match-winning heroics from the weekend, with Jake Richards included as well, Jordan Clark missing out due to illness and Tudor Mendel dropping to the bench.

It took Luton a while to get going following on from the stoppage time thriller against Leicester City just a few days ago, as Doncaster wasted a glorious chance after two minutes, Leon Ayinde’s shot tipped over by James Shea, the resulting corner flicked across goal where Neill Byrne somehow put a free header over from a matter of yards.

Town’s best chance came on 10 minutes when Nahki Wells, playing slightly deeper with Marshall in the side, picked out his team-mate with a terrific reverse pass, as the Northern Ireland international was narrowly wide of the bottom corner.

The Wells to Marshall ploy almost worked again on 15 minutes when the forward found his fellow forward once more, who this time turned the ball across the six yard box, diverted away before Richards could pounce.

Luton were almost the architects of their own downfall moments later as Walsh’s ill-advised volleyed backpass gave possession straight back to the visitors who couldn’t take advantage, Isaac Hutchinson’s tame shot easy for Shea.

Midway through the half, Richards, who hadn’t quite had the same impact that he managed when coming off the bench in the early stages, was found by Donley, but put his cross too close to Tommy Simkin.

Luton then had the ball in the net after Izzy Jones won a free kick right on the edge of the box, as it was rifled into the net via a deflection from Donley, only for the referee to spot some innocuous manhandling by Mads Andersen on ex-Hatter Jack Senior and opt to disallow the goal.

Town kept going though, close on 28 minutes when Palmer teed up Kal Naismith, his low shot taking a nick and being kicked away by Simkin

Luton were then dealt yet another in what is starting to feel like a never-ending list of injuries when Wells pulled up on the right hand side and had to go off, Mendel coming on.

With a minute to go until the break, Town were awarded what initially appeared the softest of penalties as Palmer went on the outside of the already booked Jamie Sterry, who put an arm on his shoulder, as the midfielder fell to the ground, Russell pointing to the spot.

Replays showed that the visiting defender had got a large chunk of Palmer’s shirt and Marshall didn't pass up the invitation, coolly planting his spotkick into the bottom corner.

As they have often done this term, Town made a strong opening to the second period, Mendel cutting in and shooting tamely at Simkins.

Luton didn’t have to wait long to be celebrating again, just six minutes in fact, George Johnston’s ball forward nodded on by Marshall, with Richards taking a touch and then playing in Donley to his left who thrashed a wonderful angled finish into the bottom corner beyond the diving Simkin.

Knowing there were more goals in this, Luton refreshingly went on the attack, Donley getting a headrush after some nimble footwork, slicing into the stands, while Richards did brilliantly to manufacture a shooting position, only to disappointingly put it straight at Simkin.

Marshall was just wide from 25 yards, before Palmer threaded the ball in for Mendel, who was off target. The Jamaican international was now in full flow, narrowly over via a deflection when Town worked the ball forward from inside their own box, and then nodded just over once being picked out by Mendel’s accurate cross.

Town were able to ring the changes, bringing on Emilio Lawrence and Gore with 71 minutes gone, as no sooner had they entered the fray, Luton had a third when a spinning Mendel began the move that saw Richards burst away on the left, his low cross not dealt with, landing at the feet of Donley, the on-loan Spurs player confidently drilling home his second of the evening.

Lawrence started to get involved, racing forward and clipping in an inviting cross that saw Marshall’s volley deflected over. Luton weren’t able to see the game out in the manner they wanted, as despite the best efforts in keeping the visitors at bay by the impressive Jones, paid the price for some sloppy play as Bayley McCann looped a header over Shea with six remaining and deny Town the clean sheet they had so dearly craved.

Still Hatters might have had another, Marshall advancing into the area to rifle over, but Rovers also pressed, the lively Jordan Thomas causing some real problems, Shea gathering two late cross-shots as Town were able to record their third win in just seven days and give the league table a far healthier complexion, climbing up to eighth and now just a point from the play-offs.

Hatters: James Shea, Izzy Jones, Kal Naismith ©, Mads Andersen, George Johnston, Liam Walsh (Dan Gore 72), Jamie Donley, Jake Richards, Kasey Palmer (Emilio Lawrence 71), Callum Marshall, Nahki Wells (Tudor Mendel 41). Subs not used: Josh Keeley, Joe Johnson, Teden Mengi, Harry Fox.

Rovers: Tommy Simkin, Jamie Sterry (Bayley McCann 69), Owen Bailey ©, Leon Ayinde (Jordan Thomas 69), Neill Byrne, Will Keane (Harry Clifton 73), Isaac Hutchinson, Robbie Gotts (George Broadbent 68), Jack Senior, Sean Grehan, Hakeen Adelakun (Bayley McCann 46). Subs not used: Josh Clarke, Jay McGrath. Booked: Sterry 11, Donley 30, Bailey 60, Thomas 90. Referee: Matthew Russell. Attendance: 9,707 (361 Rovers).