Ladies Football round-up: Town claim Dons derby draw

Without a game in 10 days, Luton started like a steam train and twice went close inside the opening 10 minutes.

Jess McKay saw her header expertly turned round the post by the Dons keeper from Natalie Richardson’s inswinging free-kick, while the lively Rebecca Kane had a goal disallowed for offside.

Kane broke free on 18 minutes and was hauled down in the area, only for the referee to amazingly play on when the defender could easily have been sent off.

Luton’s injury curse stuck again on 20 minutes when influential midfielder McKay went down holding her ankle and, despite wanting to play on, Luton manager Nikki Baker had no choice but to replace her. Hat-trick hero Henny Horsler, who has been in fine form for the reserves, replaced her with Rachel Kosky dropping from her more advanced position into central midfield.

Horsler’s pace and directness caused the Dons right-back a few problems, but MK fashioned their first chance just before the break as a free back post header went begging.

The second half started at a great tempo and, in an open encounter, Dani Borelli went close from distance, while only some brilliant defending from Anne Folan and Nicki Livingstone kept MK from taking the lead.

Determined play from Lauren Goodier saw her create an opening for herself 30 yards out on 55 minutes and the former Dons player audaciously fired past the keeper and in off the crossbar to give Luton a deserved lead. MK almost hit back immediately, but Folan once again cleared from inside the Town box when a Dons goal seemed inevitable.

The impressive Kayla Dortch went down under an innocuous-looking challenge and had to replaced after lengthy treatment with 20 minutes to go, with the initial prognosis being that the defender has torn her medial collateral ligament in her left knee.

Jodie McClelland replaced Kosky and again showed her versatility as she slotted in at left-back. After a sustained spell of pressure MK finally levelled with 15 minutes to go through Emily Ingle’s expertly curled free-kick.

Dons threw everything at Town in the last 15 minutes and only some excellent defending kept them out. Luton had a few chances on the break as both teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Luton return to league action on Sunday with a trip to high-flying Norwich City.

Luton Town Ladies U15s maintained their 100 per cent start to the season with a crushing 13-0 win at Flitwick Eagles in the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire County Girls & Women’s League U15 Division. Aimee Esser started the rout after five minutes, before later completing her hat-trick. Phoebe Brown scored twice with Lilley Coleman and Eireann O’Donoghue also on target. Town’s star performer was Chloe Fitzsimmons who entered the fray on 22 minutes before blasting a double hat-trick.

Crawley Green Ladies ground out a 2-1 win over Leighton Vixens Res in the Bedfordshire County Cup at the weekend.

The Luton side took the lead through an outstanding strike by Samantha Joiner five minutes into the second half.

Leighton proved to be a tough team to break down, with their young side working hard throughout the game.

However, Crawley doubled their lead through a glancing header by player of the match Tiffany Johnson.

Amber Eden dominated the centre of the pitch with her astute passing throughout, but the outstanding visiting defence kept Leighton in the game.

Vixens pulled a goal back with 20 minutes to go, but Crawley had just about done enough.

AFC Dunstable Ladies claimed a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Eastern Region Women’s Division One South leaders C&K Basildon Ladies at the weekend.

Basildon started brightly and only some last-ditch defending saved AFC from going behind very early on.

The home side continued to have the best of the match, but rarely tested stand-in keeper Tracy Blake, although they did lead 1-0 at half time.

Dionne Manning, Dan Carty and Chelsea Forde all had half chances to level, but AFC sparked into life in the second half as the thunder, lightning and rain made playing conditions very difficult.

It was another superb Carty free-kick that evened the scores and put AFC in the driving seat but, despite dominating possession, an impressive performance from the Basildon keeper kept the scores level. AFC go to Royston.