Luton Town Ladies took one step closer to the WNL League Cup knockout stages on Sunday afternoon, defeating Milton Keynes Women 2-1 at Barton.
The Town had to wait nearly ten minutes for their opening shot of the game, Lisa Milliken’s deflected effort from just inside the box was comfortably held by Amber Taylor in the Milton Keynes net.
There was a brief pause in play with ten minutes remaining of the first-half as Hatters full-back Sasha Smith was forced off the pitch with an uncomfortable looking injury, and she was replaced by forward Ami Martins.
On the stroke of half-time, the Ladies took the lead via Lisa Milliken. Jànaye Beaufort’s ball into the area was helped goalwards by the outstretched leg of Milton Keynes’ captain Favour Omenazu, and Milliken reacted quickest at the backpost to poke the ball past the oncoming Taylor.
Just after the break, a long ball down the line by Nicole Farmer picked out Ami Martins, who drove into the area and unleashed an effort which glided inches over the crossbar.
The Ladies were well on top in the opening exchanges of the second-half. Tasha Fensome collected the ball in a central area and floated it out to the left-hand side, where Milliken was unmarked, but her cross into the area was delivered with too much power and was unable to pick out any orange shirts.
With little over 15 minutes to play, Fensome came agonisingly close to extended the Hatters’ lead. Martins’ exquisite ball over the top of the defence picked out Fensome, who had made a smart run down the left-hand side, she created space for herself just inside the area and with her left foot, came close from finding the bottom right corner.
With 80 minutes on the clock, Fensome did get her goal. A Fiona Buttigieg corner was swung deep into the mixer, a Milton Keynes defender was the first to meet the ball, but her header collided off Fensome’s head and into the back of the net.
She knew little about it, but they all count and the Ladies had a 2-0 lead with ten to play!
Just after the goal, club captain Leyah Maddix replaced Shanice Lewis.
Milton Keynes started to ramp up the pressure in the remaining minutes of the game and they thought they had one back, but for an exceptional one-on-one save from Nicole Melling, who was called into action for the first time in the second-half.
With two minutes remaining at the end of the 90 Milton Keynes did get a goal back, as their captain Omenzazu powered an effort past Melling.
In stoppage time, Tanya Blacksley made her first appearance of the 25/26 season after returning from injury to replace Nicole Farmer in the centre of the Ladies’ backline.
The Ladies were able to hang on after five minutes additional time, to pick up another three points in the WNL League Cup.
The Town sit second on the group with 6 points, behind group leaders Oxford United on goal difference.
Town: Melling, Smith (sub Martins 39), Fensome (sub Fryer 90), Mulvaney, Wilson, Buttigieg, Milliken, Farmer (sub Blacksley 90), Leighton, Lewis (sub Maddix 80), Beaufort.
Subs not used: Hudson, Gayle.
Words: Owen Williams
Picture: Duncan Jack Photo
