Young Clarets quartet help Lancashire into ESFA Final to keep dream of fourth-successive win alive

The Under 14s pair Cara Milne-Redhead and Chloe Broughton, and Amy Edmondson and Jess Greenwood from the Under 15s, were part of the Lancashire squad which travelled to face Hertfordshire for the semi-final.

The Red Rose players put in a superb team effort, which saw them run out 5-0 winners, with midfielder Cara and winger Jess both getting onto the scoresheet, and defenders Amy and Chloe keeping a clean sheet.

The girls have been an integral part of the squad, which had already beaten Shropshire and Durham on their way to the semi-finals.

Hertfordshire had thumped South Yorkshire 5-0 in their quarter-final, and looked certain to provide the Lancashire players with a tough game.

However, playing with the wind at their backs, Lancashire raced to a 4-0 half-time lead, and continued to play a fluent passing game in the second half, with the defence holding firm.

Lancashire are the current holders of the trophy, having won it for the past three years, and the girls will hope to make it four consecutive titles when the final is played in May, against either Essex or Berkshire.

l Only two Burnley FC Girls and Ladies junior sides were in action this weekend.

Burnley’s Under 10s came out on top in an 11-goal thriller at Wigan Athletic.

Burnley were quickly out of the blocks,with two early goals, but Wigan were level at the break.

Burnley edged back in front and, after trading goals, advanced to the cup final against Academy Juniors (Bolton) at the Victoria Ground in Burscough.

The Under 16s suffered a 4-1 defeat at Preston.