Lancaster 2 vs Lancaster Nomads 1

Longridge 1s     2-4        Lancaster 1s

Lancaster travelled to Longridge in hope of 3 points to move up the Premier Division table.

It was Longridge that started the brightest attacking down their right-hand side. Their speed caught Lancaster napping and they were able to break the deadlock after 7 minutes after crossing the ball into the D for the attacker to slide in and flick it past goalkeeper Leighan Bleasdale.

Lancaster equalised 4 minutes later for a Nicola Conway special. Conway played a lovely one two with Ali Standeven-Johns to then deflect into the goal. On the 24^th minute Julie Walker scored giving Lancaster the lead.

On the 32^nd minute Longridge won a flurry of short corners. After Lancaster defended a number of them solidly, Longridge tried a routine that earnt them the equaliser after a reverse stick shot squeezed through the tightest of gaps.

Longridge came at Lancaster again but Bleasdale managed to save the ball off the goal line fully outstretched taking the ball, the attacker and midfielder Libby Thwaites with her. It was Thwaites that ended up in the back of the net.

Coach Reggie Helme asked the team to be more energetic and that is exactly what he got. Despite the Longridge equaliser Lancaster regrouped and took the game back to the home side. A quick break up the right-hand side of the pitch saw Longridge foul just outside the D. Hayley Standeven-Johns took a quick free hit driving high and laying the ball off to Ali Standeven-Johns. The ball was then fired across the goal for Conway to receive who calmly spun away from the defender and reverse flicked it past the goalkeeper on the 33^rd minute.

At the restart Lancaster worked hard in pairs to win back possession. On the stroke of half time Lancaster won a penalty corner. Conway fired the ball from a straight strike past the goalkeeper to become a first half hattrick hero. Scoring two goals in two minutes knocked the wind out of Longridge as both teams went into the half-time break.

Into the second half both teams defended valiantly. Lancaster were unfortunate to lose stalwart Nina Helme at the back as she took a ball to the eye after she found herself attacking in the Longridge half.

The game ended 4-2 allowing Lancaster to jump above Longridge in the Premier Division table, in what is a very tight league this season. Lancaster welcome Didsbury Northern on Saturday at 15:15.

Team: Leighan Bleasdale (GK) (C), Nina Helme, Angie Evans-Hill, Ella Bookless, Nicola Conway, Hayley Standeven-Johns, Ali Standeven-Johns, Jayde Christeansen, Julie Walker, Libby Thwaites, Sarah Kettlewell, Holly Hunter and Caitlin Ball

Goal Scorers: Nicola Conway x3 and Julie Walker

Player of the Match: Nicola Conway

Match Sponsor: Heysham Property Maintenance

Team Sponsor: Sue Bridges Estate and Letting Agents