STEVE Lutz grabbed a fortunate winner as the Robins returned home with three richly deserved points.

The hosts had won five of their previous six home games this season but created virtually nothing against a resilient visiting side.

Michael Hayden missed a glorious chance to give United an early lead, while a 27th minute volley from Lutz brought Town keeper Paul Taylor into acrobatic action to prevent the opener.

However, four minutes later, Taylor was helpless to intercept when substitute Daniel Lennon's centre was glanced into the net by the head of Mark Owen.

Lennon then wasted another opening before Jonathan Barnett thumped in an unstoppable strike from 25 yards to level matters four minutes before the break.

Owen and James Knott both went close before the turnaround, while the former mishit his shot from another excellent scoring position just seconds after the re-start.

The top-scorer then turned provider with a reverse pass that left Lutz in on goal and his bobbler evaded the grasp of the embarrassed Taylor at his near post.

Owen again provided the pass that sent Knott clear on the hour but he blazed his shot wide.

Nathan Vaughan was relieved to see Aaron Flood's close-range effort land safely in his arms and then similarly grateful that an assistant referee was in a good position to see that the back pedalling goalkeeper hadn't carried Barnett's 75th minute floated 45-yard free-kick across his own goalline.

Owen's square ball two minutes from time left Lutz with only Taylor to beat but the skipper's effort flew way over the crossbar and left Paul West's men hanging on at the finish when not even five minutes of injury-time could benefit the Bed-fordshire hosts.