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Substitute Gideon Kodua bagged a last-gasp opening day winner as Luton came from 3-1 down to end a hoodoo against Reading that threatened to continue after former Hatter Jack Marriott’s first half hat-trick. Kasey Palmer got Town on terms with a two-minute brace after the break and then Kodua was sent on as one of the second half reinforcements, lashing home in the sixth minute of injury time after first hitting the bar, to seal a memorable victory. Three points looked seriously unlikely at half time because, for the third game running against the hooped shirts Town conceded three goals, and like the previous six, the Berkshire side barely had to break sweat to score them. With defensive reinforcements added in the summer and an 11-game unbeaten streak to end last term, it was all supposed to be so different. For six minutes it was. Jake Richards slotted a sumptuous strike and more than 2,432 travelling Town fans were starting to dream. But the nightmare began less than two minutes later and it was only the start of an unwelcome dose of deja vu as the Hatters crumbled. A ball over the top should have been dealt with by Kal Naismith – whose blunder in the last clash cost Town the game – but his backless was short and Marriott stole in against his former side, though Town boss Jack Wilshere said afterwards that it was offside. If that equaliser was all about desire, then his second was sensational as he ran from deep and lashed a long-ranger beyond Josh Keeley, who probably should have done better. And the striker completed a first half hat-trick by the 38th minute when Naismith hit the deck under a challenge with Kyreece Lisbie. Wilshere said afterwards that his skipper was pushed in the back, but the referee saw nothing wrong and the Royals’ summer signing had all the time in the world to roll the ball to Marriott who, himself, had space to take a touch to steady himself to slide into the bottom corner. And Town were lucky to go in at the break just 3-1 behind as every attack from the hosts cause complete chaos at the back, with Jordan Clark called on to hook a shot off the line. Reading should’ve had a fourth in the second minute of the new period, when another long ball nearly caught them out but Keeley denied Daniel Kyerewaa. Then out of nothing, Palmer reduced the deficit as a Richards free-kick was headed away but not clear and the Jamaican international scuffed his volley into the ground, but it was enough to deceive the despairing dive of Joel Pereira. Two minutes later, Palmer made the net bulge again, but it owed everything to the unselfishness of Nahki Wells. Richards’ reverse pass to the striker through on goal, but he saw Palmer in space at the back post and instead slipped a ball for him to pass into the net. Then came time for substitute Kodua to make his mark and seal victory in stunning fashion. Richards was again involved after the substituted smashed an initial shot off the bar. He misjudged his control but it squirmed straight back to Kodua who, at the second attempt, blasted home to send the Hatters fans into pandemonium.