Lancaster 2 vs Preston 2

Lancaster 2s      3-2        Preston 2s

Lancaster 2s welcomed Preston 2s this weekend, hoping to turn their look around after last week’s defeat. Preston started the brighter of the two teams due to Lancaster earning an early card, seeing them go down to 10 players for a few minutes. Izzy Finley and Sophie Christopherson worked hard in the Lancaster midfield to drive the ball out. The tenacity of the team paid off and 10 minutes in, Carla Bleasdale worked the ball up the pitch with Izzy Finley to earn Lancaster a short corner. The ball was played to Sophie Christopherson at left slip who smashed the ball in to the corner past the Preston GKs out stretched foot.

Lancaster were spurred on by this, Susie Crayton, Olivia Wyeth-Physick and Ellie Blackstone linked well together to push Preston back into their own half. The ball was worked by Lancaster down the right which saw Ellie Blackstone smash the ball across the D, Emily Verden was there to meet it, as she thumped the ball hitting the roof of the net earning Lancaster a 2-0 lead.

5 minutes before half time Preston earned a short corner. A very well worked routine paid off and they earned a goal back. At half time the score was Lancaster 2s 2, Preston 2s 1.

The second half started off even with both teams breaking away, trying to catch each other on the counter attack. The Lancaster defence of Emma Wood, Amelia Welch, Kiera Langley, Frances Archer and Molly Chapman stayed strong, each of them making vital tackles and interceptions to keep Preston out. The Lancaster GK Rebecca Halliwell was called into action on many occasions to make important saves.

10 minutes before the end of the game Preston finally found the equaliser with a smashing goal which flew up past the Lancaster GKs helmet, leaving her no chance to before hitting the roof of the net. Preston were encouraged by this and pushed for the win. The Lancaster defence remained strong. Emma Wood found herself with the ball at the top of the Lancaster D after taking it off a Preston forward. She calmly looked up, before smashing the ball forward towards the space on the right. Emily Verden used her speed to get to the ball and found herself with a 1-on-1 with the Preston GK who had noticed the danger and was already running out of the goal towards the advancing Emily. Emily didn’t panic and she calmly pushed the ball round the Preston GK to the left-hand post. Time seemed to stand still for the Lancaster players as everyone watched the ball to see where it would end up. It finally rolled over the line much to the delight of the Lancaster team.

Straight after the restart whistle the umpires signalled there was 2 minutes left of the game. Every single Lancaster player stood behind the ball and refused to let Preston past. The final whistle was music to the Lancaster players ears, an amazing team performance to secure the win.

Team: Rebecca Halliwell (GK) (C), Frances Archer, Kiera Langley, Amelia Welch, Molly Chapman, Carla Bleasdale, Izzy Finley, Sophie Christopherson, Emma Wood, Emily Verden, Ellie Blackstone, Susie Crayton and Olivia Wyeth-Physick

Goal Scorers: Sophie Christopherson and Emily Verden x2

Players of the Match: Emily Verden and Amelia Welch

Match Sponsor: Leeanne Grayston-Aldren