HASLINGDEN SHARKS VS WESTBURY 02/10/16

The starting team for the game were: Louise Mackenzie in goal, defence Beth Whittaker and Eve Hadley, midfield Isabella Dunn, Grace Hadley and Madison Purdy, with Emily Blackburn up front. The substitutes being Phoebe Williams, Daisy Halwood, Lauren Hosefield and Jasey Kay

A bright morning and a very bright start for the Sharks. Keeping Westbury pinned in their own half for the first three minutes, in which time Blackburn hit the post from a cross by G. Hadley. After nine minutes Kay and Williams were substitutes for E. Hadley and Dunn. With Sharks continuing to pressurise, a goal was in the offing and it duly arrived after sixteen minutes when a cross from G. Hadley to an unmarked Blackburn, who swung a boot at it, missed it and the ball trickled past the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net. 1 – 0.

A minute later a through pass from Halwood to G.Hadley who shot just wide of the post. Blackburn continued to be a thorn in the Westbury side with her ball control and runs at goal. Then on the nineteenth minute Westbury's McBride put in a great shot into the top corner of the net for 1-1. Mackenzie had to make a good save to keep the scores level and at half-time it was 1 – 1.

At the start of the second half the Sharks changed goalkeeper with Purdy going in goal, after playing well as an outfield player. With Whittaker and Williams resolute in defence no chances were coming Westbury's way. Seven minutes into the second half the second goal arrived, Blackburn disposed a defender of the ball and shot passed the goalkeeper for 2 – 1.
On thirteen minutes Blackburn was fouled and had to be substituted by Kay. From the resulting free kick G Hadley strode up and smashed the ball into the back of the net for 3 – 1.

It was the Sharks who were in charge and G. Hadley had two more shots just off target, but then a through ball from G. Hadley to Dunn who shot passed the keeper for 4 – 1.
Westbury's No. 6 Grace Robinson was causing the Sharks trouble all day and made Purdy pull off a good save after 22 minutes. With full time approaching G.Hadley had another shot saved by the goalkeeper's feet. The final whistle went and the Sharks had won their first match, 4 – 1.

Goal Scorers – Emily Blackburn, Isabella Dunne, Grace Hadley (2).