First Luton Town goals for Amy McLean and Elizabeth Mulvaney, as well as a Tasha Fensome hat-trick, helped the Town on their way to a 5-1 victory over Biggleswade United in the Bedfordshire FA Women’s Senior County Cup.

Biggleswade survived an early onslaught from the Hatters, who won a handful of corners, which the hosts were able to deal with.

But the early resistance was soon broken by a Mulvaney screamer for her first Hatters goal. Fensome played the ball into the midfielder’s feet, she then shifted past a defender, before unleashing an unstoppable effort over the stranded Biggleswade keeper.

After registering her first assist of the new year, Fensome netted her first goal too. A long-range effort from the Town’s top goalscorer managed to escape the grasp of the Biggleswade shotstopper to give the Ladies a 2-0 lead at the half-hour mark.

With some boosted confidence from her first Luton goal, Mulvaney came agonisingly close to her second. Just outside the area she fired goalwards but the ball trickled narrowly wide of the far post.

Amy McLean, who has been sidelined for a majority of last season, netted her first Luton goal on the hour mark, poking home from close range, to put the Hatters in a comfortable position heading into the final 30 minutes.

And, less than one minute later, Fensome scored her second afternoon with a low-driven effort from yards out.

Biggleswade pulled a goal back with 15 minutes remaining when a free-kick from just outside the area was whipped around the right side of the Town wall and past Sarah Hudson.

But the Hatters’ four-goal advantage was restored just minutes later, and it was Fensome again, to score her second hat-trick of the season. It was great work from substitute Jánaye Beaufort in the build-up, skipping past multiple Biggleswade defenders, before charging into the area and putting the ball on a plate for Fensome to tap home.

The Ladies will now play host to tier-three Real Bedford Women in the semi-final of the Bedfordshire FA Women’s Senior County Cup.

Town: Hudson, Lewis (Buttigieg 57), Blacksley, Swarres, Tambula, Fensome, Mulvaney (Fryer 66), Makowska (Ward-Chambers 57), Milliken, Leighton (Beaufort 46), McLean (Maddix 66).

Report: Owen Williams

Photos: Duncan Jack