Luton Town Ladies 5-0 AFC Dunstable Ladies

Luton Town Ladies 6-1 AFC Dunstable Ladies

ERFWL Premier Division

Sunday 19th May 2024

AFC Dunstable Ladies finished a difficult season with defeat against neighbours Luton Town Ladies at Sharpenhoe Road on Sunday.

The Hatters dominated the ball in the first half with AFC struggling to get shots on goal going up the slope. Shianne Swarres had the first strike on goal for Luton firing over from twenty yards but on 8 minutes Jess McKay put the hosts in front, finishing really well into the top left-hand corner after a ball over the top by Leyah Maddix.

Maddix was soon replaced after a tackle by AFC’s Hayley Smith left her unable to continue, Smith was shown a yellow card for the incident. 

AFC keeper Tyrii Bell made a fine stop to deny Luton a second in the 25th minute before Luton’s Tsaianne Leander struck the post seven minutes later.

Bell was again called into action five minutes before the break, making another good save but was unable to prevent the second Hatters goal in the 41st minute when Amber Pearson picked out McKay at the far post to finish calmly.

In six minutes of added time, due to Maddix’s injury, Bell denied McKay her hat-trick with yet another fine save. McKay then turned provider when she set up Pearson to flick the ball into the net with the last kick of the half.

Bell, who had a superb game, made another save in the 58th minute while AFC’s Poppy Whitburn denied Luton a fourth with a fine last-ditch tackle with twenty minutes remaining.

The visitors’ Mollie Knox had a shot just wide with quarter of an hour left but Luton extended their lead in the 76th minute when Pearson’s free kick fell kindly to McKay to allow her to complete her treble.

Knox had a curling effort saved with ten minutes to go but Luton instantly broke away up with Leander firing a shot from the edge of the area over Bell to make it 5-0.

Added time brought more drama as Smith was shown a second yellow card for a foul then another Pearson free kick found McKay at the back post to set up Elizabeth Sanders who scored from close range.

AFC kept going and were rewarded with a goal from Haile Richards just before the end of the match.

Team: Bell: Whitburn; James; Robb; Cook; Rothwell; Smith; Brazel-Hawkins; Powell; Knox; Surridge.

Subs (all used): Richards and Garner.