Luton Town Ladies 1st XI v Shefford and Sandy 1st XI

At the end of a close game, between well matched sides, just one goal separated the teams and meant the difference between joy and despair when Luton Town Ladies travelled to Shefford and Sandy on Saturday. Unfortunately it is the visitors who will look back at the game and rue the lost opportunity to strengthen their position in the table after ending up on the wrong side of the 3-2 scoreline.
Buoyed by their convincing win over Broxbourne the previous week Luton started confidently and played the ball around well at times. As expected Shefford, who are always a physical side, defended solidly from high up the pitch. It was from an adept tackle in the midfield that they stole the ball and showed Luton that they too could work together as a purposeful attacking unit, smashing the ball home to put themselves ahead.
It was not long before Luton equalised with Suzanne Starkey hitting a bullet from a penalty corner strike. Despite the Shefford keeper getting to it the sheer pace ensured that the ball almost passed straight through them into the goal and the damage was done.
Another turnover in the midfield led to Shefford’s second, but once morethey would only pull ahead for a limited period of time. Luton had looked dangerous on the break throughout and it was from one of these quick balls out of defence that Charlotte Dunham and Suzanne Starkey found themselves two on two with the Shefford and Sandy defence. Excellent link up play between the two forwards culminated with Dunham slotting the ball home and again Luton drew level. 2-2 half time.
With the match so tight it was not unexpected that the second half would be a competitive affair. Both teams had their chances. Luton were relieved when Charlotte Mckinnon cleared the ball off of the goal line not once, but twice. It was from a controversial passage of play that Shefford scored the goal that would ultimately claim them the points. After winning the ball in the midfield the home side cut through the Luton defence and put the ball in the back of the net. As soon as the goal was scored the umpire called across a Shefford player showing them a green card and removing them from the pitch for the regulatory two minutes, however for reasons unknown to a bewildered Luton, despite the infringement, the Shefford goal stood.
Luton’s chances of a goal in the dying minutes of the game were not helped by two of their players, midfielder Emma Whitehall and defender Ayse Samiloglulari, receiving green cards within two minutes of each other, both temporarily suspended from play after failing to retreat five from a free hit. Despite a final chance from a penalty corner it was not going to be Luton’s day. 3-2 full time.
This week’s Mare of the Match award went to Emma Whitehall for her aforementioned infringement, whilst Charlotte Mckinnon was rewarded with Player of the Match for a strong, consistent performance and double goal line saves.