Triumphant win secures place in next round of the league cup
Burnley FC Women secured a spot in the Preliminary round of the FA Women’s National League Cup on Sunday, in style with a 7-2 win over league rivals Hull City Ladies.
A busy first half saw the home side start brightly with Katie Thompson and Emily Smith on the right, sending the ball in to find Liberty Bott who smashed it into the top right-hand corner to open the scoring four minutes in.
The joy was short lived however, with Burnley quick on the attack managing to equalise two minutes later through Lucia Molinari. The goals kept coming in the half, on 21 minutes Emily Smith rounded keeper Bracewell to put Hull ahead.
Ten minutes before half time with the clarets battling to get back in the game, the referee awarded a free-kick 20 yards out which Millie Ravening hit superbly to bring the clarets equal again, 2-2.
Shortly before half time Burnley were forced to make a change in goal, with Lucy Farrell replacing an injured captain, Lauren Bracewell. Burnley were quick to it in the second half with both sides enjoying chances.
However, the visitors took the lead for the first time in the game when striker Evie Priestley struck at goal to put Burnley ahead, and to bring her current goals tally to 4 goals in 5 appearances so far this season.
Chasing an equaliser Hull put the Burnley defence to work with Rachel Ackroyd having a good chance but defenders Megan Dykes, Olivia Wilson, Cara Bickett and Dani Coooper prevented any goals.
In the second change of the afternoon for the clarets, Katie Thomas replaced Lucia Molinari.
Shortly after, having enjoyed a positive spell of possession the clarets struck again with Dominique Cooper joining fellow new recruits Molinari and Ravening on the scoresheet, when a through ball saw her in on goal to strengthen the visitors lead. 2-4. More goals were to be added, with Courtney Willis bagging a fifth in the 80th minute, followed by Evie Priestley who netted her second of the afternoon.
With the final whistle drawing close, there was late drama when a foul on Katie Thomas in the area saw Nicola Worthington step up to the penalty spot to inflict another goal on the hosts, making the final score 2-7.
The triumphant win sees the clarets progress into the next round of the FA Women’s National League Cup.
Burnley FC Women Manager, Matt Bee said:
“The first half was frustrating, we were well below our standards.
The intensity of the performance and quality was lacking.
“Second half we found better movement with the ball and played into better areas of the pitch. It’s good to get goals, however, there are areas we need to work on and refine.”
It won’t be long before the claret women meet Hull City Ladies again, with the two sides due to reunite in the league in two weeks’ time on Sunday 26th September.
Burnley: Bracewell (Farrell 41), Dykes, Wilson, Bickett, Worthington, Priestley, Willis, Dom Cooper, Cooper, Ravening, Molinari (Thomas 63)
Subs: Hamer, Fleck, Greenhalgh
Hull: Cooke, Oxley, Langford (Bowman 67), Dawson, Tanser, Driscoll (McIntosh 72), Thompson, Bott, Smith, Ackroyd
Subs: Wallace, Martin