Goalkeeper Sarah Hudson was the Hatters’ hero as her two saves booked the Town’s place in the third round of the FA Cup at the end of an epic penalty shootout against Stevenage.
The Hertfordshire side got off to a quick start when they opened the scoring after just five minutes when the ball deflected off multiple players in the box wrong-footing Hudson.
Twelve minutes later the Hatters were level through a rocket by Amber Leighton. The in-form midfielder picked up the ball outside the area, took a touch and fired the ball into the back of the net for her sixth goal in four games.
After the equaliser neither side managed to create any real goalscoring opportunities with Tasha Fensome coming closest with five minutes of the first-half to play when her outside of the boot shot glanced off the post.
Just after the break Hudson made a big save when Stevenage were played in one-on-one, but the Town keeper got down low to make a vital save.
Resilient defending from the hosts, kept the Hatters away from goal and the biggest moment of the second-half came in the 88th minute when the ball appeared to have struck the hand of a Stevenage player in the box – but neither the referee or the linesman saw enough to award a penalty.
With the game level after 90 minutes, the tie went to penalties. Each side both converted their first 10 spot kicks, with Fensome, Jess McKay, Leyah Maddix, Shanice Lewis, Shianne Swarres, Liz Mulvaney, Gabriella Spillman, Elly Wade, Fiona Buttigieg and Hudson putting the ball in the back of the net.
The Hatters’ 11th penalty saw Tanya Blacksley see her effort saved, meaning if Stevenage had scored their next penalty, they would have progressed, but Hudson made a great save, to her right hand side, keeping the Town in it.
Fensome, McKay, Maddix, Lewis and Swarres all scored their second penalties. Then on the 32nd penalty of the afternoon, Hudson made the decisive penalty save, again to her right-hand side to win the Hatters an astonishing penalty shootout and a place in the third round of the FA Cup where they head to Portsmouth.
Report: Owen Williams Photos: Duncan Jack
