Hatters sink Shrews

Luton earned their first win of 2009 by beating Shrewsbury 3-1 to earn a precious three points in their relegation battle

Parkin back on the goal trail

Luton earned their first win of 2009 by beating Shrewsbury 3-1 to earn a precious three points in their relegation battle and left the visitors without an away victory in the league since August. The hosts went ahead in the 16th minute when Asa Hall flicked on Rossi Jarvis' corner at the near post and Tom Craddock touched home on the line for his sixth of the season. The Shrews levelled four minutes later when Richard Walker chested Terry Dunfield's chipped pass into the path of skipper Ben Davies, who prodded into the far corner from 14 yards for his 11th of the campaign. Chris Humphrey struck the crossbar in the 29th minute for the visitors but it was Luton who went back in front six minutes later when Sam Parkin controlled Chris Martin's cross on his chest before lashing home left-footed from 10 yards for his first goal since August. Shrewsbury piled on the pressure at the start of the second period as Grant Holt was denied by Dean Brill's point blank save before Davies hit the underside of the bar with a 30-yard free-kick on the hour. Instead it was the Hatters who stretched their lead in the 73rd minute when Richard Jackson's defensive header fell perfectly for Hall to stroke home his eighth of the season in off the foot of the post from 22 yards.