After being reduced to 10 players in the first half the Ladies battled back to secure a huge three points on the road at Actonians.
Myles Maddix made three changes from the side that drew 3-3 with AFC Sudbury last time out. Sarah Hudson made her return between the sticks, with Tanya Blacksley stepping in for Shanice Lewis, pushing Lisa Milliken back out to full-back, and Amy McLean made her first league start for the Hatters, in place of Leyah Maddix.
The Town started on the front foot, with their first chance falling Elizabeth Mulvaney’s way. She picked up the ball in midfield, drove goalwards but she was unable to keep her effort under the crossbar.
Just moments later, the Ladies came agonisingly close to the opener. Tasha Fensome received the ball from a Fiona Buttigieg pass and rattled the underside of the Actonian’s crossbar, with the hosts able to scramble the ball away from the lurking Town forwards.
But, Fensome wasn’t to be denied for long. Lisa Milliken’s lofted delivery into the area from the right-hand side was placed perfectly for Fensome to head past the rooted Dogor.
Again on the front foot, this time it was Amy McLean’s turn to test Dogor. She worked the ball smartly around the Actonians defence, but the outstretched leg of the keeper denied Amy her second league goal.
With little over 30 minutes played, the Town were dealt a major blow. Courtnay Ward-Chambers was shown a red card, following a commotion in the area, that left an Actonians defender on the floor.
Ten minutes later, Actonians made the player advantage count. Abigail Kargbo latched onto a through ball and calmly tucked her finish into the bottom right corner, with the assistant’s flag staying down, after offside protests from the Hatters’ backline.
Natalia Makowska was introduced at the beginning of the second half, she replaced Amy McLean.
Makowska then had a golden opportunity to put ten-player Luton ahead. She judged the bouncing ball to perfection and used her pace to get beyond the remaining Actonians defence, but her effort, one-on-one, was well saved by Dogor.
On the hour, the Hatters were awarded a penalty. Fensome was cleared out as she was bearing down on goal, and without hesitation, the referee pointed to the spot. Fensome stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way to reinstate her sides lead.
Despite being down to ten, Luton were well on top. Buttigieg’s corner was headed onto the roof of the net by Tanya Blacksley.
Makowska, who made a real impact off the bench, proved to be a continuous nuisance for the Actonians’ backline. She collected the ball out on the right side and glided into the area, her ball across the face off the goal was put into the perfect area, but with no Town players on hand to tap in, the chance went abegging.
The Hatters survived some late pressure from the hosts, but were able to claim a much-deserved three points – a first in the league since October.
Town: Hudson, Blacksley, Swarres, Tambula, Fensome (Wilson 74), Mulvaney (Leighton 74), Buttigieg, Milliken, Ward-Chambers, McLean (Makowska 46), Beaufort (Dickens 87).
Unused subs: Gayle, Fryer, Maddix.
Report: Owen Williams
