Jess McKay hailed the “incredible feeling” as her late double won the Bedfordshire derby, sent Luton Town Ladies to the top of the tree and maintained their 100 per cent start to the season.
Bedford had beaten the Hatters in their last two meetings, both in the County Cup, but Town had begun life in the Eastern Region Women’s League Premier Division, with three two triumphs, and that perfect start continued as they came from a goal down to claim the Bedfordshire bragging rights in injury time.
Midfielder McKay hailed her team’s “bouncebackability” afterwards and the “incredible feeling” as her second successive double claimed the spoils and edged her one goal behind top scorer Dionne Manning.
And with leaders Colney Heath drawing and Wroxham losing – the only other two teams with unblemished records – the result sent Town top of the league, two points clear.
Boss Nikki Baker said: “We left it late but credit to the girls for coming from behind and winning again.
“We had 42 chances on goal to their four, which shows how much we dominated. They wasted time and tried to see the game out which backfired in the end.
“I am delighted with the three points and we just need to keep going now.”
Baker welcomed back experienced goalkeeper Kezia Hassall and midfielder Erica Byron for their first starts of the season as Luton began brightly.
Striker Funmi Babalola missed from close range from a Rebecca Ferris cross and then saw another effort go narrowly wide before Bedford’s Maya Sidhu opened the scoring with a free-kick from just outside the box.
In the second half Hassall barely touched the ball and it was all Luton, but Bedford’s goal remained charmed.
The Hatters reacted well and had a series of chances, forcing Bedford keeper Lauren Webb into a string of good saves. Rebecca Kane had two good efforts saved and Manning missed a chance just before the break.
Being behind at half time didn’t cause the Hatters to panic and from the restart they again caused havoc going forward. Kane, Babalola and Manning all saw more efforts saved or off target and a header from Rachel Carter was just wide of the post.
In the second half Hassall barely touched the ball and it was all Luton, but Bedford’s goal remained charmed.
With 15 minutes to go a change in shape and personnel saw more pressure put on the Bedford goal and eventually in the 80th minute, a combination between Kelsey Gibson and Manning found McKay and she blasted her shot high into the net to equalise from an acute angle.
With 10 minutes to go plus plenty of added time after Bedford were time wasting, the Hatters were brave and stuck with a more attacking shape, pressing for the win. More chances came and went as Webb was having a
fantastic game in the Bedford goal.
Deep into injury time and after another array of chances, centre back Elly Wade went on a pacey run down the right wing and was brought down
by the touch line. Knowing it was their last chance, Town piled players into the box as Zara Carroll whipped in a pacey free-kick to where McKay rose highest, nodding it into the net and sending the crowd crazy.
Luton Ladies travel to Wymondham next week before they’re back at The Brache on the September 22 against Bungay Ladies in FA Cup first qualifying round action.
