Luton Town Ladies 1st XI v Saffron Walden 2nd XI

Luton Town Ladies 1st XI welcomed Saffron Walden to Challney this Saturday for their first home game of the season. After a one all draw the previous week the team were hoping for their first win of the season. After an enthusiastic warm up to a somewhat questionable selection of tunes from captain Charlotte Dunham’s Juke box the team took to the pitch. The first half was competitive with both teams fairly evenly matched, however Saffron Walden played some flowing hockey resulting in a goal in the 20th minute which put them ahead 1-0. This remained the score as the teams went into the break and Luton were not dispirited, feeling that they would be able to make a few adjustments, pull back and get ahead in the second half. Unfortunately the heat of the midday Sun combined with the fact that Luton were sadly without any substitutes started to take effect. Fatigued players meant that lapses in concentration, sloppy passes and poor defending ensued, which Saffron Walden were quick to take advantage of. They were indisputably the better side in the second half and scored three goals in quick succession. Two of these, almost carbon copies of each other, were struck firmly and stole under post player Janet Gray’s stick on the line. Luton were not without opportunities however and to be fair the scoreline somewhat flattered the visitors. Luton managed to earn themselves several penalty corners with some positive runs into the circle, but Saffron Walden’s goalkeeper had an excellent game, ensuring that despite some decent efforts from the top of the D from Suzanne Starkey and Claire Philby, Luton just could not manage to get the ball into the back of the net. Luton also had opportunities from some penetrating balls into the circle, but on a day when lady luck was definitely not smiling on them they were unable to convert these chances and the game finished a disappointing 4-0 to the visitors.

Defender Jean Limpitlaw took the honours as this week’s man of the match after a determined performance that saw her putting in several strong tackles. Mare of the match was closely contested. Somewhat surprisingly Ayse Samilogulari took the title for the second week running, sharing it this week with Janet Gray (to my mind the hot favourite) who would have escaped the unwelcome award had it not been for the fact that she voted for herself! Teenager Samilogulari should in fact be congratulated by fellow defenders, Jean Limpitlaw, Claire Philby and Janet Gray for preventing the average age of the back four from reaching well over 40!

A more polished performance will be needed next week if Luton are to triumph against local rivals Harpenden.