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Luton Town 4-1 Eastbourne Borough

Luton Town reignited their push for a play-off place with a 4-1 win over struggling Eastbourne Borough.

Both sides recorded draws in their Boxing Day clashes but it was the home side that always looked liked winning this one despite going a goal down in the opening minutes.

Matt Crabb's low drive gave his side a shock sixth minute lead but the joy was short-lived as Matthew Barnes-Homer quickly grabbed an equaliser. Kevin Gallen then put the Hatters ahead before extending their lead with a second towards the end of the first half.

Rossi Jarvis was the only person to score in the second half as a beaten Borough failed to find a way back into the tie.

With the supporters barely in their seats, Crabb had worked a neat one-two on the edge of the box before leaving Kevin Pilkington with no chance in the Luton goal.

But it took Barnes-Homer just three more minutes of his first full debut to find an equaliser as he latched onto Tom Craddock's goalward shot to poke home from close range.

Town were in front just 10 minutes later as Gallen grabbed the first of his two goals after Borough keeper Danny Knowles had done well to turn away Craddock's initial shot.

Eastbourne were limited in their attacking forays with Jamie Taylor the closest to putting his side back in the lead but he volleyed Dan Brown's free-kick across goal and just out of reach of Liam Enver-Marum.

But with ten minutes of the first half remaining, Gallen netted his second to give Luton a comfortable half-time lead.

Much like his first, Gallen reacted first to a saved shot, this time from Barnes-Homer, with Knowles only able to parry the ball into the player's path.

Eastbourne were more resolute in the second half but were not without their attacking intentions. Enver-Marum provided a moment of magic when he ran the full length of the field but was unable to keep his shot down and it curled just above Pilkington's goal.

Luton were forced to be more defensive as Eastbourne continued to press but with 10 men behind the ball it was hard going for the away side - a tactic that paid dividends for Luton, who managed to add one more goal to their total with Jarvis finishing off a good spell of possession.

Luton bookings: Nicholls

Eastbourne bookings: None

Att: 6646

Ref: Richard Martin