Luton Town Ladies progressed to the Adobe Women’s FA Cup First Round Proper on Sunday afternoon after a dominant 5-1 victory over Milton Keynes Women.
Pre-match, the Ladies announced the signing of central defender Chloe Tambula who rejoins the club from Real Bedford Women. Tambula was named in the starting XI and completed 90 minutes on her debut.
The Ladies were quick off the mark and took the lead in style with less than two minutes on the clock. A tame clearance from Milton Keynes saw the ball break to Jánaye Beaufort on the edge of the area who struck a sweet first-time volley over Thompson in the MK net. It was some way for her to score her first Hatters goal.
The opening half-hour saw a controlled display from the Town. Leyah Maddix was enjoying herself out on the left wing, with one attempted delivery towards Tasha Fensome cut out smartly by Thompson who was quick off her line.
Beaufort, also looking lively, danced through the midfield with some exceptional quick feet before threading a pass through to Emily Wilson, who was adjudged to have been offside.
But Maddix doubled the lead with 10 minutes before the break with a world-class finish. The captain picked up the ball from Fiona Buttigieg on the left-hand side, advanced into the area, shifted the ball onto her right foot and curled a beautiful effort high into the top-right corner.
Just shy of half-time, Emily Wilson netted her first Luton goal to give the Town a 3-0 lead heading into the break. A Shanice Lewis corner was missed by Thompson allowing the ball to drop straight into the path of Wilson, who had the simplest of finishes to knock the ball into an empty net.
The second-half was again controlled by the Hatters, although Milton Keynes were keeping the Town at bay. However, their second-half resistance was broken on 78 minutes when Maddix powered through the MK defence to claim her second of the afternoon. After winning a duel against Fletcher, leaving the defender for dust, she found herself one-on-one against Thompson and cooly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
In stoppage time, Lisa Milliken scored her second Luton Town goal, heading home a Buttigieg free-kick, to make it five.
Milton Keynes did get on the scoresheet themselves, deep into stoppage time with the final kick of the game, but it mattered not as the Ladies recorded an outstanding victory which seems them advance to the First Round Proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
The draw will take place at 7pm on Monday 6th October, with the tie scheduled to be played on the 26th October.
Town: Melling, Blacksley (sub Farmer 79), Swarres, Tambula, Fensome, Mulvaney (sub Leighton 75), Maddix (sub Milliken 79), Wilson (sub Fryer 79), Buttigieg, Lewis, Beaufort.
Unused sub: Hudson.
Report Owen Williams
Photos Duncan Jack
