Following last Sunday’s goalless draw against QPR, Myles Maddix made four changes to his starting XI.
Jánaye Beaufort and Andie Dickens returned to the midfield, replacing Amber Leighton and Shianne Swarres. Fiona Buttigieg missed out through injury, and a change in shape saw the Malta international and Courtnay Ward-Chambers replaced by Leyah Maddix and Natalia Makowska, who went into the frontline.
It was a dominant opening to the game from the Ladies. Leyah Maddix battled to win the games first corner just five minutes in, and Emily Wilson glanced her header wide of the post from Andie Dickens’ subsequent delivery.
Moments later Dickens was involved again; this time her long-range effort was blazed over the crossbar.
Natalia Makowska found herself in behind the Cambridge defence and won the Ladies another corner, from which Webb was able to punch to safety.
But, the Town came again. Maddix slipped Wilson through on goal, but the Ladies’ no.10 was unable to capitalise on the opportunity and poked the ball wide of Webb’s post.
Makowska found herself in space on the left-hand side and floated a ball towards the back post, but her delivery was just out of reach from the lurking Wilson.
This time it was Chloe Tambula who led the Town surge forward. The centre-half carried the ball through midfield, before spreading it out wide for Wilson to deliver into Tasha Fensome, who was unable to guide her header goalwards.
Makowska drove through the U’s midfield before unleashing an effort wide of the post. The Ladies’ final opportunity of the opening 45, meaning the two sides went into the break level.
Dickens launched the ball into the direction of Wilson, who had peeled of the back of ex-Hatter Eleanor Townsend, but her touch took her away from goal and the chance fizzled out.
Fensome slipped Maddix through on goal, but the Ladies’ captain scuffed her effort, resulting in a goal kick for the visitors.
Elizabeth Mulvaney couldn’t believe she hadn’t scored on the hour. Andie’s corner fell to the feet of the midfielder, who fired the ball over the bar from a few yards out.
Myles looked to the bench for the first time on minute 63. A double change which saw Andie Dickens and Tanya Blacksley depart and replaced by Billie Brooks and the returning Taylor O’Leary – who hadn’t featured since December due to injury.
And with 10 minutes to play, Billie Brooks headed the Hatters into the lead. Lisa Milliken’s corner was headed back across the face of the goal by Wilson and into the path of Brooks, who powerfully headed home her first Luton Town Ladies goal.
It was nearly provider turned scorer in the third minute of additional time. Web pulled off an impressive save to deny Wilson who was baring down on goal.
A dominant display from the Ladies as they secure all three points at Barton, and back-to-back clean sheets for young keeper Leah Robinson.
Town: Robinson, Blacksley (sub Brooks 63), Tambula, Dickens (sub O’Leary 63), Fensome (sub Chellenbron 84), Mulvaney, Maddix (sub Bowman 84), Wilson, Milliken, Beaufort (sub Leighton 84), Makowska.
Unused subs: Rance, Ward-Chambers.
Report by Owen Williams
