STEVE Howard is the one that got away from Chris Turner.

When Turner took over at Hartlepool in February 1999, he rued the sale of Howard which was completed hours before taking control.

On Saturday he showed just why Turner's judgement was spot on as Luton, helped by a big performance from the big front man, left Victoria Park with the points while inflicting Pool's fourth home reverse of the season.

Pool, for all their second-half pressure and possession, were let down by a poor show in the first 45 minutes when they found themselves behind after giving away two soft goals.

And the euphoria of seeing Ritchie Humphreys net his first goal in a Pool shirt was washed away by the result.

For Howard, however, it was a different scenario. There's plenty of fans on the Victoria Park terraces who picked out Howard for abuse as he made 142 appearances for Pool who would welcome him back on the strength of this performance.

And Turner admitted: "He's the sort of player we would like to have in our armoury. I saw two games before I took over here and I said that we shouldn't have sold him.

"I was left with three strikers - David Rush, Stuart Irvine and Craig Midgley - with 14 games to go and we have never really replaced him."

Howard was a dominating figure in the first half, showing why he is one of the most fouled players in the Division - and why he is also one of the most likely to foul. It's difficult for defenders to get the better of his massive frame and when he puts himself about, it's easy for officials to go against his honest endeavour.

He's a better player than the one who left Pool and if Turner had been able to improve Howard in the way he's improved the rest of the players, who knows what sort of player they would have now.

It was Howard's presence that caused Anthony Williams to spill a cross that dropped for Dean Crowe to open the scoring. The Pool 'keeper - who had already gone walkabout once and was given a massive let off when Matthew Spring headed over an empty net - came for a cross and in the unnerving presence of Howard dropped a howler.

Any suggestions of a foul were instantly dismissed by referee and later Turner.

Howard was enjoying his battle against pal Micky Barron, but his task was made harder when Luton were down to ten men after Ian Hillier was shown his second yellow card and he was left up front on his own.

"It was nice to come back and win like that,'' admitted the 25-year-old. "It was all Hartlepool towards the end when we went down to ten men and we were under the cosh, but we defended well.

"It was hard up front on my own later on and of course, I was disappointed not to score but winning in the important thing.

"There's been a hell of a turnaround at Pools since I was here. They showed what they can do last season and hopefully they can do it again.

"They didn't have the best of starts to the season, but I don't think there was any panic because of what was achieved last season and I always knew they would come good.''

Howard had a well-publicised on-pitch bust-up earlier this season when he missed a twice-taken penalty at York and while it might have looked as if his days at Kenilworth Road were numbered, he admitted: "That was a turning point for me in a way.

"It was just one of those things that happens in football. I missed a penalty and got up and got on with it afterwards. But now I'm playing well."

And Howard is blossoming under the tutelage of former Newcastle hard man Mick Harford. "He's great - especially for me,'' he beamed. "He's been there and done it and he is giving me little things to help my game."

Pools have a quick reunion with Howard as they go to Kenilworth Road on December 22 and at least now they know what they are in for.

Luton weren't afraid to commit themselves in the tackle - five bookings and a sending-off resulted - and under Harford and boss Joe Kinnear the cynics could claim there was a touch of the Wimbledons to their game.

Their second goal came when Spring sprung over a cross and as Jon Bass was caught asleep, in stole Matthew Taylor to net.

Defensive lapses have been rare for Pool of late. They had only conceded four in ten previous League games, netting 15 in the processs, so to give two goals away in the same game was a shock.

Pool were starting to get on top when Anth Lormor - in for Gordon Watson who has been suffering a slight hamstring strain in recent weeks - wasted a glorious opening when he headed over an open goal from six yards out.

They then forced three corners in a minute and how they craved for a goal and a lifeline. Hillier's sending off gave Pool more impetus, Paul Smith whipped in a cross from the resulting free kick and under immense pressure who headed clear?

No prizes for guessing it was Howard.

And then came the goal that many thought they would never see. Darrell Clarke's shot was spilled by Mark Ovendale and Humphreys tapped in. Talk about relief - Humphreys was still taking the plaudits as Luton kicked-off.

Humphreys to his credit has not let his goal drought affect his game. He might not have scored this season but his performances have been outstanding in recent weeks.

"It's just such a relief,'' admitted Humphreys. "It seemed to take an age to go in. It's nice to score but of course it's the result that counts and we are so disappointed with our first-half performance.''

Humphreys has never been a prolific scorer. Saturday's goal was only his 12th in around 90 League games, but the signs are there that there's plenty more to come in a blue and white shirt.

Out of sorts Lormor failed to make the most of his rare start and was replaced by Adam Boyd as Turner opted for guile instead of power. But Boyd was often crowded out by a packed rearguard and as Turner rightly replaced his full backs in favour of some more quality balls from the back as Pool stretched the ten men, there was a nagging feeling that a big man could have benefited.

Paul Smith should have had a penalty when he was hacked down by a trio of defenders and Mark Tinkler and Clarke were denied by the heroics of Ovendale.

Victorious Kinnear said: "Last time I was here I came to see my old mate, the late, great Cyril Knowles when he was manager here years ago, so it's brought back a few memories. But you'd hardly recognise the place now and Hartlepool have obviously come a long way as a club."

They've also come on a long way since Howard's departure

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