What started promisingly for Boro turned into a long afternoon in the blazing sunshine at Coles Park. After taking an early lead, then hitting the woodwork Luton were ahead by halftime and then added a couple more in the second half to put the game beyond doubt.
A young Boro side were ahead within 5 minutes, though. After Luton had flashed an early effort over Jada was fouled 25 yards out, slightly right of centre. Chloe stepped up and whipped the ball beyond the wall and it hit the back of the net before the keeper could react.
Luton kept pressing and gradually looked to be getting on top but had nothing on target to show for it and it was Boro who next came closest.
Jada won another free kick, in a similar position but a little wider. Chloe again stepped up but this time the keeper threw her hands up and parried the ball onto the bar.
And in truth, that’s about as good as it got for Boro in the fist half. As Boro sat back and looked to play on the break Luton looked increasingly dangerous.
Liamara, in goal, was called on several times as Luton found their range, with Boro having to last ditch defend too often, and by half time they’d turned the game around.
First, a through ball beat the offside trap for a simple close range finish, then a clumsy challenge in the area conceded a penalty which was confidently dispatched.
The second half was played in much the same vein. Boro could not hold decent possession in forward areas, with the front 3 being well marshalled by the visiting back line.
It wasn’t too long before Luton had doubled their lead. Another run to beat the offside trap was neatly finished under a diving Liamara.
As the pace of the game slowed and more space opened up it was Luton who continued to offer the main threat. Liamara made two more saves when one on one to keep the score respectable, but couldn’t prevent Luton adding a late 4th. A high corner curled in beat everyone and hit the far post. The ball bounced up on the goal line and was stabbed in at the second attempt.
Boro survived one more scare, defending a free kick after Liamara unfortunately carried the ball outside of the area but saw out the game with no further setback.
