Luton Town Ladies are back to winning ways following a 3-2 victory over Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers Women on Sunday afternoon, with Jess McKay, Tsaianne Leander and Tasha Fensome on target.
The Ladies announced the signing of ex-Hashtag United, Stevenage and Millwall midfielder, Stef Paci, before kick-off on Sunday and she was included on the Hatters’ bench.
Fiona Buttigieg came closest to opening the scoring in the opening exchanges, with her free-kick landing on the roof of Megan Frary’s net.
Bridget Adu collected the ball in defence, drove into midfield and spread the ball out to the left-hand side for Buttigieg to fire goalwards from distance, but her effort was kept out by Frary.
Fifteen minutes in, McKay finished off a well-worked Luton Town move to give the Ladies the lead.
Shanice Lewis picked up the ball on the right-hand side and played it into Leander, whose cute flick landed in the path of Tasha Fensome, Fensome then laid the ball off for McKay, whose curler nestled into the back of the net.
On the half-hour mark, Dussindale capitalised on a loose ball from the Hatters and curled an effort past Sarah Hudson, drawing level with their first shot of the game.
With five minutes to play of the first half, McKay almost restored Luton’s lead. Buttigieg whipped in a pinpoint free kick from the right-hand side, McKay rose highest, but her header was sent wide of the post.
Adu’s long ball into the box, was flicked on by Fensome into the path of McKay, who was denied by Frary.
Half-time: Luton Town Ladies 1-1 Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers
Nine minutes after the restart, Leander gave Luton the lead. McKay played an inch-perfect ball over the top of the Dussy defence and Leander expertly lobbed Frary, giving the Hatters a 2-1 lead.
Five minutes on from the second, Fensome netted Luton’s third of the afternoon. Lewis broke free on the right-hand side, fired a shot on goal, her effort was parried into the direction of Fensome, who reacted quickest to fire in the rebound.
Moments after the Town scored, they conceded a penalty, or so they thought. The referee pointed to the spot for a handball against Luton, but after a consultation with the linesman, the penalty was overruled.
McKay, yet again, came agonisingly close to extending Luton’s lead with ten minutes to play. On the turn, she fired a shot goalwards, but her attempt crashed off the inside of the post and Dussindale were able to clear.
At the other end of the pitch, the visitors pulled a goal back. The ball took a wicked deflection off the head of McKay, which wrong-footed Hudson and gave Dussindale a lifeline, with seven to play.
Full-time: Luton Town Ladies 3-2 Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers
The Hatters managed to hold on for all three points, despite pressure from the visitors in the second half.
The victory means that the Town have now won 12 consecutive league games and remain second in the Eastern Region Women's Football League Premier Division table, ten points behind Royston Town Women, who won 5-0 away at Watford Ladies Development, but with four games in hand.
For latest table and results, click HERE.
Words: Owen Williams
Picture: Duncan Jack
Visit the Luton Town Ladies website - www.lutontownladies.co.uk
