Luton Town Ladies returned to winning ways on Sunday afternoon as an own goal and a Tasha Fensome strike earned a 2-0 win at Milton Keynes Women.
Myles Maddix made one change to the side that was defeated at Carrow Road last Sunday, with Lisa Milliken dropping out and Tanya Blacksley coming in to make her first start of the season.
It was a slow start for the Hatters, who couldn’t get hold of the ball. Milton Keynes won the game's first corner in the third minute, after an attempted delivery into the area from the left-hand side was blocked by Fiona Buttigieg.
The Town's first chance of the afternoon came through Fensome in the 11th minute. Her high press enabled her to intercept an attempted pass back to Bamford in the MK net, but her touch around the keeper was a heavy one and the hosts were able to reset via a goal-kick.
The hosts looked certain to have scored on the half-hour mark. A corner from the right-hand side was swung into the area and knocked goalwards past Nicole Melling in the Luton net, but Buttigieg was there to clear off the line.
Nicole Melling continued her fine form, making an incredible save to deny MK the opener. She was quick off her line to make an exceptional block.
Buttigieg had the Hatters’ final chance of the first half, her free-kick was hit over the crossbar.
The Ladies started the second half strong. Emily Wilson set up Fensome in the area, but her effort was tame and comfortably held by Bamford.
With five minutes to play, the Ladies took the lead. A Shanice Lewis corner was swung towards the back post where an unfortunate miscue from an MK defender saw the ball bounce off her thigh and into her own net.
Fensome soon doubled the Ladies’ lead. Substitute Nia Bowman played an incredible ball into Fensome, who then found herself one-on-one against Bamford and slotted the ball into the net to secure all three points for the Town.
Town: Melling, Blacksley (sub Sargeant 90), Swarres, Fensome, Mulvaney, Wilson, Buttigieg, Farmer (sub Bowman 83), Leighton (sub Maddix 86), Lewis, Beaufort.
Unused subs: Hudson, Gayle, Fryer.
Report Owen Williams Photographs Duncan Jack
