Peterborough put the brakes on Luton’s surge into the Nationwide Division Two play-offs as they grabbed a draw thanks to Neale Fenn’s stylish swivel and shot six minutes before the break.
Luton always looked more likely to take maximum points and forced Posh to fight an increasingly frantic rearguard action in which goalkeeper Lee Harrison emerged as the hero of the hour.
On loan from Barnet and deputising for Posh's long-term injured keeper Mark Tyler, Harrison made a succession of important saves especially in the closing stages as Luton tried to turn up the heat.
Harrison's best effort came two minutes from time when he denied Luton dangerman Tony Thorpe with a reflex save from close range after earlier keeping out other efforts from Thorpe and strike partner Steve Howard.
It was Howard who stroked Luton into a 12th minute lead skipping past Simon Rea to steer the ball into the net after being sent clear by Steve Robinson.
Posh had seldom looked threatening before one-time Spurs man Fenn’s 39th minute leveller.
The goal came at the end of a move started by Gareth Jelleyman and involving Sagi Burton and Richard Scott before Rea provided the final touch.
Luton boss Joe Kinnear felt his side should have won saying: "We needed all three points and have let two of them slip.
“But we do have games in hand on other teams in the race and it is now even more important that we win them.†Posh boss Barry Fry was satisfied with a showing that further eases fears of being sucked into the relegation scramble, commenting: "We stuck to our task well for a side that has just lost its most influential player in recent weeks following the sale of Jimmy Bullard to Wigan.â€