| The Belles faced second-placed Harvesters looking to consolidate
their place at the top. Luton were quickly into their stride,
Yasmin Hickling going on a run down the left-flank, cutting
the ball across to Lauren Bruton, who fed Chloe Barnes breaking
from Midfield, but her shot was a foot wide. Lauren then out-paced
the defence down the right, cut in, her shot was blocked and
Livi Robinson followed-up with one that was pulled wide. But
if anyone thought that this was going to be a one-sided affair
they were to be alerted to the visitors attacking threat soon
afterwards. Boasting a number of ex-Watford players, it was
soon evident why they had matched the Belles goals-for tally
before this game. Their Number 9, who had tormented almost single-handedly,
the Belles last season, broke quickly down the right, cut inside
and hit a deep dangerous cross that Luton struggled to clear.
The follow-up shot from the left, again hit with ferocity, was
inches wide of the far-post. Yasmin then struck a shot wide
after Lauren charged down a clearance. But another quick break
by the visitors down the right gave Luton problems when a powerful
shot had to be parried by Sian in goal and Alice O'Shea was
first to the loose ball to clear with the net unguarded and
strikers looking to pounce. Yasmin then set Kirsty McIntosh
free down the left, Kirsty took on a defender and crossed for
Lauren, who shot just wide. Harvesters then put Luton under
intense pressure in an end-to-end game. They had two powerful
drives in quick succession, one from the right and the other
from the left, that just failed to open their account. Yasmin
then threaded a searching ball through the middle for Lauren,
but the keeper was out quickly to gather just in time. Alice
then almost created a goal when she quickly turned defence into
attack with a clearance up the line for Jasmine Hall, cutting
in from the right into a one-on-one with the keeper, but play
was pulled back for a marginal offside. Lauren then broke quickly
from half way and found Yasmin with a diagonal ball. Yasmin
took it in her stride, cutting inside the defender, then hitting
a powerful shot on the run, inches over the bar. Luton were
punished just before the break, when they failed to clear decisively
and the Number 9 took advantage, as she retrieved the ball and
calmly steered it wide of Sian in goal for the crucial opener.
0-1.
Half-time
The Belles, fresh from an ear-bashing at the break, needed
to strike early and once again Luton were soon carving out
openings. Chloe Barnes, switched to the left after an injury
to Robyn Wilfort, used her pace to good effect before releasing
Lauren in the box but the visitors did well to prevent her
turning to shoot. Yasmin then sprinted past a defender down
the right flank and squared a ball across the box that eluded
everyone, until Chloe, arriving late in the box just got a
toe to the ball before the keeper collided with her, resulting
in a penalty kick. Jade McEntaggart stepped up and struck
the spot-kick firmly, but over the bar. So, Luton had to put
it out of their thoughts and continue to to try to force an
opening. With both sides battling to gain the upper-hand a
period of scrappy play ensued, but the Belles were now matching
Harvesters in midfield. Yasmin went on another run wide on
the left and played a ball inside, Livi won the ball from
the defender and took a stride into the box and shot but the
keeper gathered comfortably. Not disheartened, Luton continue
to press and they got their just reward when a Harvesters
defender handled in the box as the ball flew about. Jade collected
herself, before, this time, striking her spot-kick wide of
the despairing dive of the keeper to put the sides level.
1-1. Luton, buoyed by the goal, now went in search of a winner.
Jade threw-in to Yasmin, who turned her marker and slipped
a teasing ball into the six-yard box, where Lauren darted
in to nudge the ball inches wide of the near post. Then Luton
delivered in a great corner from the right, Lauren flicked
on and Kirsty, under close guard, turned the ball just wide
again. Chloe then delivered another excellent corner from
the left this time, which evaded everyone at the near post
and fell to Kirsty 10 yards out, her hooked shot this time
clearing the keeper and dipping below the bar to trigger wild
celebrations on the pitch. 2-1. Lauren then went on a diagonal
run before releasing Yasmin on the right, who made herself
space before shooting powerfully just over the bar. But Harvesters
rallied with time running out and forced two late corners
well dealt with by Kelly Moss at the back. Despite clearing
their lines, Harvesters quickly returned the ball into the
box where their left-sided ex-Watford striker who had destroyed
Luton last season, was unmarked. Sian came out quickly to
make it difficult, but the shot was lifted over her and as
everyone held their breath it appeared to be sailing in the
corner but it thankfully went just outside the post.
Full-time
So the Belles had triumphed again despite going behind to
a side brimming with forward talent and more importantly won
themselves three vital points against their closest challengers.
Player of the Match: Kelly Moss (solid at the back and played
a Captains' role in rallying her team-mates)
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