Luton Town striker Nahki Wells continued his brilliant start to the season after netting his third goal in as many appearances as the Hatters battled to a 2-2 draw at home to Notts County in the Sky Bet League One on Saturday.

Wells opened the scoring at Kenilworth Road in the 42nd minute from the penalty spot after the visitors handled Liam Walsh’s corner in the area, the goal arriving after team-mate Jordan Clark was stretchered off and taken to hospital following a clash of heads.

However, Town’s lead was short-lived as Cal Roberts levelled four minutes later for County when he swept home from the edge of the box via a deflection after the Hatters failed to clear their lines.

Wells and his team-mates came out swinging after the restart, with Jake Richards and Gideon Kodua blasting efforts over the bar.

But County began to test Luton’s defence and surged ahead in the 61st minute when an unmarked Ollie Cooper beat Hatters’ goalkeeper Josh Keeley from close range.

Luton manager and former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere rolled the dice by bringing on Benny Benagr and Callum Marshall in a double substitution in the 62nd minute.

The tactical ploy paid off as Marshall, who came on for Wells, struck his first goal for the club on his home debut six minutes later with a neat finish on the edge of the box after being picked out by Kasey Palmer to bring the teams level.

Marshall went close in the 74th minute when his low, curling effort was turned behind by County goalkeeper James Belshaw.

The Hatters pressed on in search of the winner, but it was not to be as their opponents held on to the end.

Wells, who was booked in the 56th minute, opened his season account in Luton’s 3-0 demolition of League Two side Gillingham in the first round of the Carabao Cup at Kenilworth Road on August 8.

He also got on the scoresheet again in the Hatters’ 4-3 win away to Reading in their league opener on August 15.

Wells and his team-mates will now shift their focus to Thursday’s second round Carabao Cup commitment away to Premier Division side Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Former Bermuda captain Wells earned a runners-up medal in the competition with then League Two side Bradford City after losing to Premier League opponents Swansea City 5-0 in the final at Wembley Stadium in 2013.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Nathan Trott’s Cardiff City were held to a 2-2 draw away to Derby County in an exciting Sky Bet Championship affair at Pride Park Stadium.

The Bermudian goalkeeper was called into action early to deny Corey Blackett-Taylor and Oscar Fraud as the Rams started on the front foot.

The Bluebirds gradually grew into the game and took the lead when Cian Ashford swept home in the 19th minute.

City’s advantage was short-lived a Derby forward Carlton Morris equalised seven minutes later.

It was an end-to-end game with both sides seeing plenty of the ball before Yousef Salech restored City’s lead in the 39th minute to earn them a one-goal advantage at the break.

But the Rams were back on level terms four minutes after the restart when midfielder Bobby Clark beat Trott with a powerful finish.

Both teams pressed on for a winner but ultimately had to settle for a share of the spoils.

The Bluebirds will now shift their attention to their second round Carabao Cup commitment at home to Championship rivals Norwich City at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.

Trott and his team-mates enjoyed a good run in the competition last season, reaching the quarter-finals where they lost 3-1 at home to Chelsea.