It was the late show at the Galpharm this afternoon as battling Town left it very late to claim their just rewards. Loanee Luke Beckett will be the man grabbing the headlines in the morning for it was his 94th minute equaliser that gave Jacko's men a share of the spoils. Town were unlucky to go behind to a controversial opener and indeed the officials riled the Galpharm faithful with numerous questionable decisions throughout.
The Terriers were unlucky to go in a goal down at the break after more than matching the table topping Hatters. Indeed, Town had the majority of the chances and only fell behind to controversial opener from Brkovic after the assistant referee had failed to keep up with play and looked to have missed two blatant off-sides.
After four minutes of play Luton had appeals for a penalty turned down after a shoulder to shoulder challenge by Nathan Clarke on Steve Howard in the area. However, referee Thorpe was having none of it and the ball went harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
Town immediately responded with their first effort of the game with Boothy narrowly missing the target with a bullet header from a Mirfin cross. Moments later the Terriers threatened again after good play by Ahmed and Edwards released Beckett in the area but the loan marksman failed to get enough purchase on his volley to trouble keeper Beresford.
Town continued to pressure and Boothy had his second effort of the game on eleven minutes when he volleyed in an Edwards cross after good work between Beckett and Schofield.
The Terriers went even closer on the quarter of an hour mark when a 20 yard Ahmed effort was deflected behind by Davies for Town's first corner of the game. This was quickly followed by their second after good pressure by Beckett.
Midway through the half Schofield registered Town's first effort on target when he rifled in an effort from wide left which keeper Beresford gathered comfortably at the base of his right post.
Town kept their foot on the gas and just as Schofield was winding up for a volley from Beckett's cross, Foley managed to avert the danger with a headed interception.
Boothy was again denied the opener on 31 minutes when he collected a Beckett flick-on and bore down on goal. Just as the local hero was about to pull the trigger, Perrett managed to get a toe to the ball and divert behind for Town's fourth corner of the game.
Against the run of play and in very controversial circumstances the Hatters' took the lead on 32 minutes through Brkovic. Assistant referee West was busy flagging for a foul which was overruled by referee Thorpe to Luton's advantage. As West tried to catch up with play, the Hatters twice looked to be in an offside position but with the assistant still not up with play Brkovic swept the ball home much to the displeasure of the Town fans and players.
With eight minutes of the half remaining Davis became the first player in the referee's book when he appeared to blatantly elbow Mirfin in the face making no attempt whatsoever to play the ball.
Half-Time: HuddersfieldTown 0 LutonTown 1
The second half started in the same pattern as the first for the Terriers as they enjoyed the majority of possession without working keeper Beresford. Indeed, it was the visitors who had the best chance in the first ten minutes of the second half with both Foley and Vine firing wildly over the bar when in good positions.
The officials continued to endear themselves to the Galpharm faithful when Thorpe booked Sodje.
Jacko made his first change of the afternoon just after the hour mark when Pawel Abbott replaced Chris Brandon and Town switched to 4-3-3.
The Terriers strung together a fluent passing move on 68 minutes with Schofield, Ahmed and Edwards heavily involved, the latter rifling in a twenty-yard effort which rippled the outside of Beresford's side netting.
Jacko made his second throw of the dice on 72 minutes when he replaced Adnan Ahmed, who received a standing ovation for his contribution, with Lee Fowler.
Referee Thorpe again incensed the Town faithful when he awarded the visitors a free-kick after what looked to be a perfectly good challenge by Clarke. Robinson Was cautioned from the resulting melee and the referee appeared to lose track of where he awarded the initial free kick and repositioned the ball some 40 yards from the original offence.
Jacko made his third and final change of the afternoon on 82 minutes replacing Edwards with Mendes.
The Terriers came within inches of an equaliser on 84 minutes after great footwork by Abbott saw the Pole advance towards the Hatters' area and lay the ball into the feet of Beckett. The Town striker turned but saw his attempted curler saved by the fingertips of the Luton stopper.
With four minutes of added time indicated the visitors made their first change of the afternoon with Brkovic being replaced by Neilson. This was soon followed by a second change with Vine being replaced by Andrew.
Just when it looked as though all Town's efforts would prove fruitless loan star Beckett registered his fifth goal for the Terriers deep into injury time when he lobbed Beresford from twelve yards after Booth's flick-on from a Fowler set-piece.
It was no more than the Terriers deserved for their hard work and Jacko's men left the field to a deserving standing ovation.
Full Time: HuddersfieldTown 0 LutonTown 1
Attendance: 12,611
Travelling 1048
