Two goals in the space of three minutes from Andrew Fotiadis and Matthew Spring secured three vital points for the Hatters as they came from behind to beat Stockport County 3-2 at Edgeley Park.
Stockport player-manager Carlton Palmer had the home side's best opening chance after twelve minutes, heading an Aaron Lescott cross narrowly over.
But it was Luton who struck first through their inspirational captain Spring after fourteen minutes, when they caught their opponents out with a counter-attack.
Emmerson Boyce raced down the right touchline after a cheeky through ball from Alan Neilson and delivered an inch-perfect ball, which County defender Jim Goodwin failed to clear properly. The loose ball fell invitingly for Spring, who made no mistake in firing the ball into the back of the net from just inside the penalty area.
County wasted no time, getting themselves back on level terms just four minutes later after some superb build-up play on the right wing. Midfielder Ali Gibb delivered a teasing ball for Luke Beckett, whose powerful header was too good for Luton's debutant goalkeeper Cedric Berthelin.
And it could have got even better for County if Palmer had not missed another glorious opportunity after being set up by Gibb on the half-hour mark.
The home side made just one change from the side that lost 2-1 to Gillingham in extra-time - Aaron Lescott replacing Rickie Lambert in the heart of the midfield - and played with a huge amount of passion in an entertaining encounter.
And they deserved to take a 2-1 lead in the second minute of first-half injury time when promising Irish Under-19 international Jon Daly poked home after Berthelin could only parry a fierce drive from Lescott from just outside the area.
But when Fotiadis and Spring struck in the 71st and 74th minutes County could find no way back