A midweek trip down to Bedfordshire to watch a league game in the FA Women's Premier League (FAWPL) South East Division One between the two leading women's team in the county and an opportunity to visit a famous old ground for the 1st time as the game was being held at Luton Town FC's Kenilworth Road Stadium.
An old ground a rarity these days as it is an inner city stadium surrounded by housing on three sides, a mixture of renovated and old stands that has seen much history and in recent times troubled off the pitch it is a ground steeped in character, showing it's age in places maybe but that only adds to it's distinction.
Fantastic that the men's club had agreed to a women's football fixture being played there, knew from when it was announced quite recently that the venue had been secured both teams were excited by the prospect of playing there.
A local derby Luton Town Ladies are an established side in the division, where as Bedford Ladies are newly promoted this season having won the Eastern Region Women's Premier Division title last season. The visitors though find themselves propping up the league following the sad news that Ebbsfleet United Ladies had pulled out of the league. Bedford Ladies have registered just one league point from 6 games played but apart from one blip had lost these games by just the one goal, such as the reverse fixture at home to Luton Town Ladies earlier in the season where they went down 2-1.
Luton Town Ladies sit in mid table in the league after a good start to the season have lost the last couple and were looking to get back to winning ways on what was a fairly wet and miserable night with the rain having been lashing down more or less for my entire drive down to Kenilworth Rd. With an appointment I couldn't cancell getting there on time for KO was a challenge and I thought I'd miss it as I arrived at the ground but luckily KO was delayed for a few minutes and I took my seat just in time for the match action.
Luton Town Ladies stating XI - Hollie Staples, Michelle Byrne, Rachel Kosky, Rachel Carter, Shanice Jimenez (C), Jessica McKay, Zara Carroll, Nicola Livingstone, Erica Byron, Remi Bains & Rebecca Kane.
subs - Angelika Kopec, Jodie McCelland, Amy Nash & Henny Horsler
Bedford Ladies starting XI - Katie Upton, Katie Hay, Sophie Britton, Lottie Burton, Suzie Darby, Lucy Bateman, Chloe Scott, Maisie Wyatt, Natasha Fensome (C), Rebecca Vass & Eden Washington.
subs - Chelsea Hunter, Cyeanne Eaton, & Shannon Carroll.
It was the visitors Bedford to kick off the game under the floodlights in their kit of white shirts, black shorts and socks lined up against Luton lined up in orange shirts with navy shorts and socks. The pitch looked in great condition lush and green albeit slick on top with the amount of rain that had been falling and continued to drive across the floodlights.
Bedford started brightly were on the attack and looking to get at a Luton side that was missing several players through injury especially at the back. With Natasha Fensome, Bedford's captain looking to get on the ball and play in striker Eden Washington in front of her.
Luton win the ball back in defence and look to spring a quick counter attack the ball played up to their captain Shanice Jeminez making a run into the right channel driving to the corner she puts in a waist high cross that Bedford keeper Katie Upton takes at the near post, her throw out to her defenders is mis- controlled allows Luton's Zara Carroll to intercept and strike from 25 yards out, Upton though has shifted quickly across her goal line and is there to make the save.
At the other end of the pitch Eden Washington steals the ball from a defender and looks to be in on goal, seeing the danger however Luton goalkeeper Hollie Staples is quick off her line to make the save at Washington's feet.
Natasha Fensome with time on the ball 30 yards from goal looks to shoot puts the ball in along the ground, Staples with the dive drops low to collect the ball. Washington with a strong run in the middle plays the ball out wide right to Rebecca Vass making a supporting run she shoots the shot is blocked.
A poor kick from Upton in the wet conditions gives Jeminez an unexpected chance to have a run at goal as she intercepts the ball 20 yards out looks to drive forwards and get her shot away, can't get it off the ground as Upton back tracking recovers well to claim the ball.
Luton having soaked up the early pressure from Bedford are coming into the game more looking to get their wide players, Jeminex right and Erica Byron left on the ball to make runs into the channels look to put crosses into the box. One good build up leads to Rebacca Kane in the centre receiving the ball just inside the box back to goal she see's Zara Carroll is free in the middle lays the ball into her path, on the run Carroll strikes the ball, drilling it towards goal from long range the shot off target.
GOAL! Luton win a corner after a free kick is played into the box from the halfway line, coming in from the right the set piece is driven low towards the 18 yard line, it's Zara Carroll who meets it takes a touch and sends the ball towards goal and scores as Upton dives in vain getting something on the ball but not enough the home side lead 1-0.
Carroll has another chance as she has the ball out wide right cuts back inside from the by line puts in a cross shot that has Upton concerned as it curls back inside towards the goal close but turns late going wide of the far post.
Washington is played in by Fensome to the left of goal, Staples is out of her goal quickly again to look to put her off stays big as Washington tries to lob her at an acute angle gets the ball over her but wide.
GOAL! Bedford win a corner on the right the ball coming into the near post area is headed up high and across the goal by Chleo Scott, dropping down a shot comes in cannons off the upright, rebounds back to Scott who powers the ball home to bring the scores level 1-1.
Staples is out off her line quickly seeing the danger as Fensome plays a pass through to Washington she is in to attack the goal, Staples slides on the slick surface diving to close down the angle, Washington looks to dink the ball over her and into the back of the net but at close range can't get enough height as Staples gets a glove to the ball.
Late in the half Upton is lucky to still be on the pitch as Luton play the ball over the top for Rebecca Kane to chase she is under challenge from the defensive as Upton comes rushing out and clumsily takes her out trying to make a save, is hurt in the challenge the incident is right on the 18 yard line the referee gives her a yellow card. The set piece is taken by Carroll who has a long run up and shoots blasts the ball against the cross bar.
Half-time Luton Town Ladies 1-1 Bedford Ladies
A fairly even and fast paced 1st half both teams creating chances the scores level the rain continues to fall as the home side kick off the 2nd half. The opening exchanges are fairly even with both sides unable to get a final ball into the box.
Maisie Wyatt fro Bedford with the ball in the left looks to come inside tries to slide a pass into Washington, the ball is intercepted and Luton break quickly shoot early from distance Upton sees the shot all the way and makes the save.
The ball is played across the pitch to Luton's Erica Byron coming in from the left, looks to shoot from 25 yards out her effort goes wide across the goal face. Another good chance for Luton as Rebecca Kane chases down forward pass to the left of the box looks to put the ball back across goal with the outside of her boot, it comes to Remi Bains who has made a good run in support at the far post six yards out screws her attempt at goal wide.
Juminez has a shot from 30 yards out after Luton win the ball again at the back and look to break. The home side make a change with Bains coming off and Henny Horsler coming on up front. Has an almost instant impact as she holds the ball up well lays it off to Jeminez charging in she shoots the effort off target.
For Bedford, Fensome is being given time and space on the ball uses it well looking to drive forwards from the middle pulls out to the left channel and strikes the ball hard towards the near post, Staples with good hands makes the save.
GOAL! Luton retake the lead, numbers forward in attack looking to find a way through Bedford struggle to clear the ball Rebecca Kane stays strong riding a challenge on the edge of the area is through on goal one on one with the keeper, Upton tries to put her off but staying composed Kane puts it past her and into the back of the net 2-1.
Luton are having much more of the ball 2nd half are looking to add to their scoreline Jessica McKay in a central position puts a long range drive wide of goal.
Fensome with another powerful run from the middle peels left again her shot takes a deflection Bedford have a corner coming into the near post, Maisie Wyatt puts her header wide from close range.
Luton on the attack with Byron a strong run down the left of the pitch plays the ball into Horsler who has time and space to tee up a shot from outside the box, on target Upton makes a good save at the near post. Luton hit the bar again as Kane chests down a long pass as she makes a forward run, looks to shoot the ball looping up off the cross bar, comes to Byron who blasts her effort wide.
Bedford are tiring in the wet condition's Luton are getting shots in from long range nothing to trouble Upton late. McKay pulls another long range drive wide, before Jimenez blasts a shot in from 20 yards that Upton saves with her feet.
The full time whistle blows and Luton Town Ladies win the match 2-1. Another fast paced game with good play from both sides despite the awful weather. Another defeat by Bedford by a single goal margin.
A good experience for both teams getting to play at Kenilworth Road hopefully Luton Town FC will give their ladies team more opportunities in the near future. I thank both teams for their assistance in helping me out with the squad details.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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