Luton Town Ladies 1st XI v St Albans

Luton Ladies 1st XI hopes of climbing the table after a visit to local rivals St Albans were dashed this week by a debatable penalty stroke decision which snatched away their lead and resulted in the match ending in a disappointing one all draw.

Luton started brightly, which seemed to take the home side by surprise. The visitors put together some decent attacks early on and it was one of these that earned Luton, what would turn out to be, their only goal of the game. Emma Whitehall’s penetrating run decimated the defence and left Rebecca Clarke free in the circle to receive the easy pass. Clarke, in her first game back for a very long time, showed that she had not lost her eye for goal and calmly slipped the ball past the oncoming keeper to put Luton ahead.

There was little between the teams throughout and both had several promising chances to score. The Luton defenders should be congratulated for their tenacity, the awesome foursome of Clare Philby, Ayse Samiloglulari, Sally Kelly and Jean Limpitlaw combining well with keeper Shannon Smith to protect the Luton goal. On not one, not two, but three occasions a goal for St Albans looked assured, but somehow the determined defence managed to prevent the ball from crossing the line.

It was not until the second half that St Albans managed to get themselves back into the game. Smith’s clearance from a St Alban’s strike seemed to have relieved the pressure, when much to everyone’s surprise and confusion the umpire blew his whistle and awarded a penalty stroke for a foot on the line???!!! Despite the Luton player’s protestations the stroke stood and was duly converted, bringing the scores level, which is how they would remain until the end of the game.

Promising performances from some of the less experienced members of the squad made for a close run player of the match award this week with Ayse Samiloglulari narrowly outvoted by Alisha Patel who made an excellent contribution to claim the title.
Mare of the match was also a close call, with returnee Becky Clarke breathing a sigh of relief as the final vote meant that the dubious honour went instead to Emma Whitehall who had, in a moment of unusual generosity, passed the ball straight to the opposition's centre forward.

With the table so tight Luton know that they really must get a result against Bedford at Challney next week.