Goals from Jess McKay, Ami Martins, Tasha Fensome and Tsaianne Leander earned Luton Town Ladies a 4-0 win overt St Albans City Women to take the Hatters to the summit of the ERWFL Premier Division.
In the opening 20 minutes at Barton there wasn’t too much to report on as the Town kept the pressure up, but failed to create any real goalscoring opportunities.
Fensome thought she had given Luton the lead 25 minutes in, but the linesman deemed the Hatters number seven to be offside.
Seconds later, the Town did take the lead, through McKay. It was a great show of pace from Fensome down the left-hand side to get onto the ball, she then delivered it with pace into McKay, who powerfully finished into an open net.
Just after the half-hour mark, Martins doubled Luton’s lead, but this was all about the assist from Fensome.
St Albans appeared to have the ball shielded out for a goal kick, that was until Fensome’s perfectly-timed sliding challenge not only kept the ball in play, but was put on a plate for Martins to net her sixth goal in her fourth appearance.
The Town looked to get off to a quick start in the second-half. Liz Mulvaney’s long distance shot was held by Charlotte Swan in the City net.
On the 50th-minute mark, Swan made another exceptional save. Fiona Buttigieg’s corner was whipped into Elly Wade, who saw her header swiped away by the shot stopper.
Fensome netted a goal of her own on the hour. McKay was played through on goal and unselfishly laid the ball off to Fensome, who had an easy finish.
With 20 minutes to play, Gabriella Spillman picked out Fensome in the area with a deep ball, but the in-form forward wasn’t able to apply the finishing touch, putting the ball out for a goal-kick.
Deep into stoppage time, Leander wrapped the game up with Luton’s fourth of the evening.
Fensome, again was the provider, this time her deft touch into the area was met first time by the returning Leander, who made no mistake with her finish to seal the win and send the Hatters above Royston Town at the top, leading by a point with two games in hand going into Sunday's trip to third-placed Stevenage.
Words: Owen Williams
Photos: Duncan Jack
