Potters Bar 1st XI v Luton Town Ladies 1st XI

Injury and illness depleted Luton travelled to Potters Bar this Saturday for what was always going to be a challenging outing against a team that have made a promising start to their league campaign. Despite Luton maintaining a good deal of possession and creating some decent attacking opportunities the home side defended strongly. Unusually for the visitors they did not manage to really threaten the Potters Bar goal.

Luton may have been forgiven for thinking they had made a minor navigation error and had, in fact, arrived in Brighton rather than slightly North of the M25. Judging by the the amount of sand on the pitch a bucket and spade might have been the tools of choice, however with only hockey sticks to hand the team decided to press on with the game for which they had been fashioned. Once embarked on this expedition the girls did, in fact, conclude that the sand was undoubtedly there to mask the horrors hidden beneath, with the patchwork quilt of the attacking circle reminiscent of our very own Lea Manor playing surface back in the 90s. Unfortunately comparisons between the pitch and Luton’s defence were also hard to ignore, with Potters Bar exploiting the holes in both, leading to them bagging two goals in the first half. Whilst most of the team were content with drinking water and taking a break from the stifling humidity at half time Suzanne Starkey scrambled around in a fruitless frenzy for the drugs that would see her through the rest of the match. Unfortunately the Luton striker could find neither these nor the goal in the second half.

Ultimately it was left to ex Luton Town player Rebecca Woodgate, product of our own youth system, Facebook friend to many & recent returnee to the area (not that we’re bitter that she's put love over loyalty) to put the game beyond reach with a goal for Bar in the 50th minute. Potters Bar three, Luton nil.

Despite the disappointing result there were positives to be taken from the game for Luton. Olivia Sturrock who came up from the 2s defended well, whilst credit should be given to Helen Beattie, who, despite being an outfield player, stepped in to fill the gap in goal, with regular keeper Sharna Gough unavailable. Beattie made some crucial saves which prevented the scoreline becoming even more of an embarrassment than it already was.

Next week Luton will aim to bring their losing run to an end when they face Leighton Buzzard at Challney.