The Town Ladies went down to a narrow defeat Chatham on Sunday.
Ellie Perkins’ second-half header proved to be enough to the see off the Hatters in an end-to-end contest in Kent.
Andie Dickens was named in a starting 11 for the first time in 624 days after recovering from an ACL rupture, replacing Shianne Swarres in the only change from the Hatters’ defeat to Oxford United last Sunday.
Chatham were quick out the blocks, winning a corner with less than a minute played after playing the ball off Tanya Blacksley but the Town were able to clear to safety.
At the other end, a Lisa Milliken free-kick was dealt with comfortably by the debuting Abby Baravik.
Elizbeth Mulvaney, still in search for her first Luton goal, attempted to test Baravik from distance, but she could only fire her effort over the bar.
Chatham started the second half the better side, but a couple strong challenges from Shanice Lewis halted the Chats in their surge for the opener.
After soaking up some early second-half Chatham pressure, the Hatters had a golden opportunity to take the lead. Milliken’s deep ball into the area was weighted perfectly for Tasha Fensome, but the Ladies’ top goalscorer this campaign could only head wide, under pressure from Baravik.
Amy McLean, who suffered an injury in pre-season after signing for Luton from Real Bedford in the summer, made her long-awaited debut in the 65th minute, replacing Dickens.
With just under 20 minutes played, Chatham took the lead. Lucy Jones’ corner was powerfully headed past Sarah Hudson by Perkins.
The Ladies pilled the ball into the Chatham defensive area in the closing stages but weren’t able to find the leveller. The defeat was their first away from home in the league since September.
The Hatters are back in action next Sunday when they host league leaders Fulham at Barton.
Town: Hudson, Lewis (Leighton 86), Blacksley, Tambula, Fensome, Mulvaney (Swarres 86), Maddix (Makowska 65), Dickens (McLean 65), Milliken, O’Leary, Beaufort (Fryer 90).
Report Owen Williams
Photos Duncan Jack
