Burnley Belvedere vs Haslingden Ladies

The day didn’t start too well for Haslingden when 3 players said they couldn’t make the fixture, leaving just 1 substitute. Far from ideal when your away from home against quality opposition.
The game started and Belvedere went straight on the attack, playing some fast and accurate football, winning the first balls and every header. It was obvious this was going to be a tough match and would need all the fitness Haslingden could muster. Within 10 minutes Belvedere had taken the lead with a fine shot into the top left corner that left Lomax no chance in goal.
This seemed to put a match under Haslingden who started putting passes together and contesting every ball. Some good work down the wings brought a through ball for Webbe who was brought down 20 yards from goal. Up stepped Evans who rifled the ball towards the top left of the Belvedere goal, the goalkeeper got a hand to it and somehow fumbled it into her own goal.
1-1 and game on. Haslingden began chasing down every ball and reducing the space the opposition had to work in, pressing all over the pitch. A fantastic ball from Chadwick found Ashworth in the centre of midfield, she took one step right and unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner of the Belvedere goal. 1-2 to Haslingden, and soon after half time.
The pitch had a slight slope on it and Haslingden had been facing up hill for the first half, so hopefully the second half would be a little easier on the legs, as some of the girls looked shattered with no chance of a rest.
The second half was played at a fantastic pace from both teams, but Haslingden dug in deep, putting in some excellent tackles and contesting every ball. Tireless work from Atkinson brought about a mistake from the Belvedere defence who lost the ball to Pusey, she played out wide to Rose who took on her defender and curled the ball around the keeper to make it 1-3 to Haslingden. Belvedere started to up the pressure after this and had a really good spell of possession, a ball through to the striker brought a one on one with Lomax in goal, she dove bravely at the strikers feet who went down under the challenge. The referee waved play on as he said she got the first touch of the ball, but she was also injured in the challenge.
The game continued as the keeper and Webbe in midfield were down, but the referee hadn’t noticed. Both teams carried on, but some players stopped for the injuries. The ball fell to Ashworth on the edge of the box and once again she finished into the Belvedere goal. The referee gave the goal and a bit of confusion ensued. But as we all know you have to play to the whistle, and so the goal stood.
1-4 to Haslingden.
Belvedere put together a last few attacks on the Haslingden goal and grabbed themselves another fine goal to make it 4-2.
It was to late for a comeback as the referee looked at his watch and blew for full time.
A superb game for the neutral and great advertisement for ladies football.
Haslingden had to dig deep to get a win against a very good Burnley Belvedere side, so we need a special mention to Mallabourn, Higginson, Caldecott and Atkinson in defence, who put they’re bodies on the line for the team today, and the other Atkinson who worked tirelessly all afternoon up front, pressing at every opportunity to push Haslingden forward.
Well done Ladies, and into the next round of the cup we go.