WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-3 RUGBY BOROUGH

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Midlanders earn come-from-behind victory

2025-03-02T18:13:50.317Z

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-3 RUGBY BOROUGH

Midlanders earn come-from-behind victory

2025-03-02T18:13:50.317Z

Midlanders earn come-from-behind victory

Three second-half goals condemned Burnley Women to defeat at home to Rugby Borough on Sunday afternoon, with the visitors winning 3-2.

Amelia Hazard and Rhema Lord-Mears’ fine goals gave the Clarets control at the break, but an impressive fight back meant the points would not be staying in Lancashire.

There were three changes to the team that started against Stoke City last time out, with club captain Jade Richards taking Naomi Hartley’s place at centre-back.

Aimee Kelly returned to the squad and started on the left of the front three alongside striker Laura Elford, with Claudia Walker dropping to the bench.

The Clarets dominated the ball in the opening stages and broke the deadlock through Hazard, who found the back of the net for the second game running.

It was a fantastic goal from the midfielder, who picked out the top left corner from around 30 yards.

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-3 RUGBY BOROUGH - Image 1

Both sides attacked at every opportunity, with Elford shooting wide and Kelly finding the arms of Rugby’s Anna Pederson before the visitors perhaps should have equalised just before the half hour.

After a strong run on the left the ball made its way to Lucy Wood, but her effort was just wide of the left-hand post.

Burnley finished the first half strongly though and, after multiple chances and near misses, it was 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.

Siddall threw the ball to Lord-Mears and, after a neat turn, her 25-yard effort was too good for Pedersen to prevent the midfielder’s third goal of the season.

The second half started in a similar vein with both teams testing their opposing ‘keeper in the opening 10 minutes.

However, Rugby halved their deficit with 54 on the clock when a deep cross to the back post found right-back Kelis Barton, who planted her header into the bottom right corner.

The first change of the afternoon followed shortly afterwards, with Heidi Logan making way for Northern Ireland international Danielle Maxwell.

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 2-3 RUGBY BOROUGH - Image 2

A bitty period of play then followed with four injury breaks affecting the flow of the game, and Grace Palmer later replaced Lord-Mears.

Rugby started to build a head of steam and eventually equalised when substitute Yasmin Mosby reacted quickest to a loose ball to score from close range.

Charley Docherty then replaced Kelly and Elford made way for Claudia Walker as the match entered a signalled 10 minutes of stoppage-time.

However, Rugby took the lead for the first time a minute later when a long throw eventually fell to Alanta Brown, who was able to beat Levell with a first-time effort from 16 yards.

Burnley kept pushing and Tilly Wilkes forced Pedersen into a strong save low to her left, but it wouldn’t have counted anyway as the assistant referee flagged for offside.

The result means Sawiuk’s side now sit 4th in the table with 37 points from 16 matches.

Burnley: Levell, Siddall, McPartlan, Marshall, Logan (Maxwell 56), Lord-Mears (Palmer 73), Richards, Hazard, Wilkes, Kelly (Docherty 83), Elford (Walker 90)

Unused Substitutes: McAloon, Hartley, McDaniel

Rugby Borough: Pedersen, Morris, Nixon, Greenslade (Mosby 73), Wiseman (Iton 90+5), Wood (Shaw 58), Potts (Brown 73), Morris, Robert, Roberts, Barton

Unused Substitutes: Peterkin, Moncaster, Camwell

Goals: Hazard 13’, Lord-Mears 45’, Barton 54’, Mosby 80’, Brown 90+1’