Luton Town Ladies reached the County Cup final on Sunday afternoon following a 5-0 thrashing of local rivals AFC Dunstable.

As ever, the Hatters started on the front foot. Some quick feet from Leyah Maddix enabled her to run into space, but was instantly closed down and her shot was blocked.

Just before the 20-minute mark, Jess McKay played an inch-perfect ball in behind the Dunstable defence for Maddix to collect but her shot was well saved by the Dunstable shot-stopper.

However Maddix eventually did get on the scoresheet. She picked up the ball on the right-hand side, sent the ball into the box and it looped over the keeper and into the back of the net to give the Hatters a 1-0 lead on the half-hour.

Ten minutes later, Luton doubled their lead. Jess McKay and Amber Leighton played a smart one-two, with the latter expertly picked out McKay, to follow her run in behind the defence before making no mistake with her finish, poking the ball past the keeper to make it 2-0 to the Hatters at the break.

A controlled start to the second half for the Town was rewarded with a goal. Fiona Buttigieg, fresh off her international call up to the Malta Women’s senior squad, fired the ball goalwards and a touch off a Dunstable defender wrong-footed the keeper to extend the lead.

Fifteen minutes after being introduced, Tasha Fensome added a fourth. Maddix played the ball into McKay, who shielded the ball well and laid it off for Fensome who stroked home.

In the final minute of the 90, a rocket from Leighton added a fifth for Luton. The ball broke free on the edge of the area and Leighton fired her first time shot into the top right corner of the goal.

The Ladies’ reward will be a meeting against Real Bedford in the Bedfordshire County Cup final. The date and venue will be announced in due course.