After a joyous week of celebrating being crowned ERWFL Premier Division champions, the Hatters completed the double with a 3-0 League Cup final win over Stevenage at The Eyrie on Sunday afternoon.

The Town made four changes from last week’s 8-1 victory over Needham Market at Barton, with defensive duo Bridget Adu and Nicole Farmer replaced by Tanya Blacksley and Shanice Lewis, while Shianne Swarres came into midfield for Nancy Tucker and Luton’s number 10, Jess McKay, replaced Leyah Maddix.

In an end-to-end opening period, Stevenage had the game's first corner, five minutes in, although they weren't able to test Sarah Hudson in the Luton net.

At the other end, Luton had a corner of their own. Fiona Buttigieg’s delivery missed the heads of multiple Town players and gave Stevenage the chance to counter, but for McKay, whose high press won the ball high up the pitch, the attack soon fizzled out as her cross into the area was tame and the Stevenage keeper comfortably collected the ball.

On the ten-minute mark, Tasha Fensome looked certain to have given Luton an early lead. She rounded the goalkeeper, but her effort into an open goal was thumped clear, in the nick of time, by a Stevenage defender.

Twenty minutes in, Sarah Hudson made an incredible double save to deny Stevenage the opener. Amy Makewell was played through on goal, despite looking to be in an offside position, the flag stayed down and Hudson was called into action, making a great low block, the rebound was followed up by Gemma Croucher, who was also denied by a reflex save from Luton’s number one.

With five minutes to play, Maltese international Buttigieg, gave the Hatters a well-deserved lead. The full-back collected the ball on the left-hand side of the area and on her right foot, curled the ball into the top-right corner of the Stevenage net.

On the stroke of half-time, Luton’s top scorer Fensome almost netted a perfectly-timed second, but her effort from close-range flew into the stands.

Five minutes into the second half, Fensome found herself one-on-one, but she was unable to convert as her effort rolled wide of the post.

The Hatters, who were dominant in the second-half, doubled their lead through Elly Wade with ten minutes to play.

Shanice Lewis’ corner caused a goalmouth scramble, Wade’s original effort was scrapped off the line by a Stevenage player, but it was second time lucky for the captain, as the ball fell back into her direction for the tap in.

In stoppage time Lewis wrapped up the game for the Hatters. It was full-back to full-back for an exceptionally well-worked Town third.

Buttigieg worked herself into space down the left-hand side and played an inch-perfect ball into the feet of Luton Town Ladies youth product Lewis, who slotted the ball away, first time.

Town: Hudson, Blacksley, Swarres, Wade, Fensome, Mulvaney, McKay, Buttigieg, Leander, Leighton, Lewis

Subs: Farmer, Price, Paci, Martins, Maddix.

Words: Owen Williams

Photos: Duncan Jack