SEASON REVIEW: WOMEN PART ONE

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With another campaign coming to an end, we take a look back over Burnley FC Women’s season month by month…

2022-05-31T13:47:43.511Z

SEASON REVIEW: WOMEN PART ONE

With another campaign coming to an end, we take a look back over Burnley FC Women’s season month by month…

2022-05-31T13:47:43.511Z

With another campaign coming to an end, we take a look back over Burnley FC Women’s season month by month…

AUGUST

In preparation for their first full season of being integrated within the Club, Burnley FC Women were put through four pre-season tests, against sides from a variety of levels.

There were defeats to Women’s Champions League competitors Celtic and Women’s Championship outfit Sheffield United, though victories against both FC United and Liverpool Feds.

No less than eight players were added to the squad ahead of the FA Women’s National League campaign, including Millie Ravening and Dom Cooper as well as Hollie Kelsh, Lucia Molinari, Courtney Willis, and Lucy Farrell.

Come the end of the season, the Claret women would end as the league’s top scorers and their first four came on the opening day of the campaign away against Sheffield FC Ladies. A clean sheet at the other end ensured the perfect start.

Then came Burnley’s inaugural game at Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium, ending in a 4-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Following this, the Clarets home ground switched to the County Ground in Leyland.

Before the opening month of the campaign was out, two more defeats were to follow. A 2-0 loss away at familiar foes AFC Fylde in midweek the first of only three times in the league all season where Burnley failed to find the back of the net, proceeded by a 2-1 scoreline away at Derby County.

SEPTEMBER

As usual in the women’s calendar given that the division has just 13 teams, some months prove busier than others with September this time around being one of the quieter spells.

Nonetheless, in the two games which were played out across the month, Burnley put right some of the wrongs from August with a sublime display in a 4-0 win against Huddersfield Town and a 3-0 victory away at Hull City Ladies.

Summer signing Willis netted three times across those two fixtures on her way to a finish in the league’s top 10 scorers list. Ravening and homegrown striker Evie Priestley also joined her in that respect with the latter netting 16 in total in the league alone.

OCTOBER

Progression continued as October started with a comfortable win at home to Loughborough Lightning but stalled with a midweek defeat to Brighouse Town at the County Ground with the rain hammering down.

Despite a late leveller from the hosts, a 2-2 draw at eventual champions Wolves proved a hard-fought point and result, though defeat to West Brom on Halloween proved to be anything but. With the weather conditions again more than playing their part that day, the Baggies left Leyland with three points from a 4-3 goal-fest.

NOVEMBER

Laying the ghouls of Halloween to rest, November saw the Claret women get back on track beginning with a win on the road at Stoke City.

Then came a 2-0 success in the Women’s FA Cup at home to Durham Cestria in a third-round tie with striker Katie Thomas finding the back of the net on what proved to be a comfortable afternoon.

No sooner had the fourth round been reached in the competition than Burnley moved onto the fifth, picking up an impressive win away at AFC Fylde to do so. Racing into a 3-0 lead by half-time at Kellamergh Park, Ravening and Thomas both hit the target as well as midfielder Lizzy Hamer.

The Coasters fought back in the second half to net twice in quick succession as the snow fell on a bitterly cold day as the festive season approached, though the Claret women survived a late onslaught to set up a glamour tie.

DECEMBER

Liverpool were to be the opponents in the fifth round, with Burnley welcoming the Reds to Leyland on December 12.

Eventual winners of the Women’s Championship come the end of the campaign, the visitors ran out 4-0 winners on the day, though the fixture provided another memorable moment for the players and staff alike.

The following day, Matt Bee left his role at Burnley FC Women to pursue an opportunity elsewhere.

There was just one more fixture to be played out prior to the Christmas break in the Northern Premier Division of the FA Women’s National League and on yet another bitter day, a point was gained in the Midlands. Ex-Liverpool winger Willis fired home in a 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest, rounding off 2021.

Part two will be published shortly…