Luton Town Ladies continued their 100 per cent start to the Eastern Region Women’s League Premier Division season as Rebecca Kane, Rachel Carter and Dionne Manning scored to see off Royston Women 3-0 at The Brache.
It was the second successive week that the Hatters have hit three goals, with Manning again netting at the death – her fourth in two games – but, thanks to their first clean sheet of the campaign, it was the icing on the cake of a dominant display, rather than the last-gasp heroics of the opening day.
But manager Nikki Baker said: “We knew that a win today was vital to try and get a run going.
“Our performance was better than last week and if we could’ve been more clinical it would have been a hammering. It is something to build on and I am delighted with the three points and clean sheet.”
Baker made five changes to the starting line-up, handing a debut to 18-year-old goalkeeper Chinue Ayton. Tanya Blacksley, Elly Wade, Rebecca Ferris and Kane were also given starts, the latter rewarding her boss with the opening goal.
She went close three times before breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half time, in an opening period where Royston also headed onto their own bar and Jess McKay was denied by the visiting keeper.
But a superb turn and run gave Kane space to pick out the bottom corner and put her side ahead at the break.
The Hatters continued to push for a second goal after the interval and Erica Byron almost scored straight from a corner. Five minutes later, another Byron set-piece was met by the leaping Carter who arrowed her header into the top corner to double the lead.
Minutes later debutant Ayton was called into action as she saved a one-on-one and held onto the ball well.
Young striker Funmi Babalola created a great chance and was unlucky not to score, forcing the keeper into another good save while Manning fired wide.
But, in the dying moments of the game, Luton won a penalty for a handball and Manning fired down the middle to seal the points and send Luton joint top of the league.
