Luton Town Ladies 1st XI v Bedford Town 3rd XI

Saturday 31st October, looking back, will seem an appropriate date for Luton Town Ladies journey up the A6 only to go down 4-1 to local rivals Bedford, a result that may well return to haunt them when final league positions are decided at the end of the season.

With the Luton squad missing a number of regular players it was the turn of youngsters Leah O’Shaughnessy and Rebecca Blanchett to be welcomed into the fold for the first time this season. Playing up front alongside newcomer Tasniem Ferdouse this resulted in an attacking line up whose combined years barely stretched to the age of just one of the Luton defenders!

It was perhaps due to the collective unfamiliarity of the re-vamped side that Luton found themselves under pressure from the off. In contrast Bedford looked like a solid unit and to Luton’s consternation they found themselves 2-0 down after just five minutes.

After the early onslaught, once settled, Luton did seem to find something of a rhythm of their own and even put together some promising attacks throughout the latter part of the first half. The visitors went into the break frustrated at their early deficiencies, but determined that if they could continue to play as they had been, in all but the very first few minutes of the half, that all was not lost.

The visitor’s sole goal came shortly after the break, from one of only a couple of penalty corners that they were awarded throughout the course of the game. It was Clare ‘Sharkey’ Philby who stepped up to the mark and struck the well-directed shot with such venom that it left the Bedford keeper with absolutely no chance of making a save and netted the defender her first goal of the season.

Unfortunately for Luton it was not long before Bedford managed to break through their defence and find the back of the net again, extending their lead once more.

With the Sun beating down more akin to a midsummer’s day than one on the cusp of winter, it was not surprising that Luton, with their reduced squad, began to tire. Bedford did not need an invitation to take advantage of the visitor’s fatigue, stringing together a series of dangerous attacks. A penalty corner from one of these was struck firmly towards the corner of the goal by the Bedford attacker. Post player Janet Gray managed to get her stick to it, but unfortunately for the defender it ricocheted off into her own foot on the goal-line, leaving the umpire with an easy decision, awarding a penalty stroke to Bedford, which was subsequently converted, effectively putting the final nail into Luton’s coffin.

Credit must go to Ayse Samiloglulari who despite having been struck down with flu this week gallantly battled through the match, even after receiving a blow to the mouth in the second half. Fortunately the defender, who’s body has something of a magnetic attraction to the ball, was saved from serious injury by her well fitted mouthguard.

Charlotte Mckinnon, who has already played nigh on every position on the pitch this season, again demonstrated her enviable flexibility by stepping in as sweeper for Saturday’s game. She put in a Sterling performance, saving Luton at the back on more than one occasion, as well as driving forwards and creating attacking opportunities when the situation allowed, resulting in her being awarded the player of the match award. The last second request by the ginger ninja to substitute the original white match ball to one that matched her hair colour may have seemed strange to all at the time, but if it was the stimulation for this magnificent performance then so be it. Unusually the same player also received the not so enviable ‘mare of the match’ award for her second half altercation with the umpire, who did not appreciate Mckinnon’s vocal protest against their decision to award Bedford, who had lifted the ball into the circle, clearly hitting the Luton legend above knee height, a penalty corner. Mckinnon’s eloquent remonstrations did nothing to improve the situation, but earned her a green card and the mandatory two minutes rest from the game.

Luton will hope to bring their run of bad form to an end next week when they take on Saffron Walden at home.