Lady Clarets earn Morecambe tie after seeing off Mersey in cup

Monday’s FA Women’s Cup Third Round Qualifying draw presented Burnley FC Ladies with a trip to Morecambe on November 2nd.
Match action: Burnley FC Girls and Ladies Under 13s enjoyed a 6-1 win away at Hesketh ColtsMatch action: Burnley FC Girls and Ladies Under 13s enjoyed a 6-1 win away at Hesketh Colts
Match action: Burnley FC Girls and Ladies Under 13s enjoyed a 6-1 win away at Hesketh Colts

The Lady Clarets earned the right to face the Shrimps after Sunday’s 2-1 victory over a spirited Mersey Girls outfit.

The margin of success would have been much greater but for a superb display from the Mersey keeper.

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Her first save came as early as the second minute, thwarting Justine Wallace with her feet after the Burnley striker had been put through on goal by a superb pass from Becky Hayton.

Mersey almost opened the scoring after 20 minutes, a free kick from the edge of the box clearing the bar by no more than a couple of inches.

The lady Clarets were increasingly frustrated by Mersey’s off-side trap, but Burnley worked hard and put the opposition under pressure, Wallace heading marginally over from a Jo Rohman free kick.

On the half hour, the Clarets were punished for their missed chances, the Mersey striker pouncing on a misplaced clearance to put the visitors ahead.

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Burnley lost their rhythm at this stage of the game, the quality of their passing deteriorating as they became increasingly edgy.

But the game was transformed by two Burnley goals in the last five minutes of the first half.

Hayton beat the off-side trap to go clear through on goal. The heroic Mersey keeper kept out her effort, only for the ball to deflect to Rohman, who finished from close range.

Within seconds of the restart the lady Clarets gained the lead, a magnificent cross to the far post from right winger Charlotte Hartley finding Hayton, who coolly chested the ball into the net.

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Despite dominating the second half, the lady Clarets failed to score the killer third goal.

Wallace volleyed over from a Hayton corner, Rohman narrowly failed to get on the end of another Hartley cross, and the Mersey keeper again saved bravely at Hartley’s feet.

On the rare occasions that Mersey threatened, the central defensive partnership of Jo Holt and Leah Hart held firm to preserve Burnley’s 2-1 advantage.

On Sunday, the lady Clarets return to league action when they entertain Blackpool Ladies at Barden Sports and Athletic Club, kick off 2 p.m.

GARY SIDLEY

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With both the Under 16s and the Senior Development Squad having a week off, it was left to the younger ages groups to fly the flag for Burnley Girls and Ladies this weekend.

The seven teams in action did the club proud, scoring an impressive 34 goals between them.

Top scorers were the Under 9 Clarets, who continued their fantastic start to the season, scoring 13 goals against Academy Juniors in the mist on the 3G pitch at the Bolton Arena.

The Under 9 Blues also found good scoring form, hitting six and being unlucky to lose away at Rainford.

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The Under 15s managed to score five goals, but were still on the end of a defeat away at Stockport County, as their unbeaten start to the season came to an end.

Burnley raced into a 2-0 lead, but an attack-minded Stockport side went into the break 4 -2 up.

Despite a determined second half performance, the Burnley ladies were unable to play their usual crisp passing game on a poor pitch, and were ultimately frustrated to lose the game 6-5.

The Under 14s bounced back from their defeat at Wigan last weekend with a 2-0 victory over St Helens Town, and the Under 10s beat Blackburn CSC by the same scoreline.

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Performance of the weekend came from the Under 13s who were in action away against Hesketh Colts at Southport.

Games between these sides have historically been very tight affairs, but the Under 13s produced their performance of the season so far to beat a skilful and hardworking Hesketh side 6-1.

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