IF, AS Machiavelli suggested, revenge is a dish best served cold, then a sub-zero Victoria Park was the ideal venue for Mike Newell, the Luton Town manager, to prove a point to former employers. Newell remains irked by the decision to dismiss him eight months into his Hartlepool tenure in 2003 after differences of opinion with the club owners, just weeks after leading them to promotion from the old third division.
That this merited victory increased to seven points the lead Luton enjoy at the summit of Coca-Cola League One, thanks to a 12-match unbeaten league record, merely increased the sense of satisfaction enjoyed by the Liverpudlian.
Chris Coyne made the most of his underemployment at the heart of the Luton defence to open the scoring in the 21st minute — the Australian simply took aim to plant a low 20-yard shot into the bottom corner — and 14 minutes into the second half Enoch Showumni sprang the offside trap to score his fourth goal of the season from 12 yards.
A headed own goal by Sol Davis gave the home side hope of an unlikely revival just after the hour, but a close-range finish from Kevin Foley two minutes later ensured that justice was done. An injury-time consolation from Matty Robson, a substitute, led to a few nervous moments at the end but Newell was not to be denied.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED (3-4-1-2): D Konstantopoulos — C Westwood (sub: E Williams, 79min), M Nelson, B Clark — G Strachan (sub: J Ross, 70), A Sweeney, M Tinkler, R Humphreys — A Boyd — J Porter, J Daly (sub: M Robson, 75). Substitutes not used: J Provett, A Appleby. Booked: Clark.
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LUTON TOWN (4-4-2): M Beresford — A Neilson (sub: K Keane, 46), C Coyne, C Davies, S Davis — K Foley, K Nicholls, S Robinson, A Brkovic — R Vine, E Showumni. Substitutes not used: D Seremet, R Perrett, C Andrew, M Leary.
Referee: M Jones.