WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: CHORLEY 1-4 BURNLEY

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Clarets win LFA Senior Cup for third year running

2025-03-20T22:59:43.824Z

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: CHORLEY 1-4 BURNLEY

Clarets win LFA Senior Cup for third year running

2025-03-20T22:59:43.824Z

Clarets win LFA Senior Cup for third year running

Burnley scored twice in both halves to beat Chorley 4-1 and win the Lancashire FA Senior Cup on Thursday evening.

Goals from Laura Elford, Heidi Logan and Claudia Walker alongside an own goal were enough to see the Clarets past their tier four opposition in Leyland.

There were six changes to the team that started Sunday’s 3-0 league victory at West Bromwich Albion, with Naoisha McAloon keeping goal for the seventh time this season.

Charley Docherty featured at right-back, while two changes to central midfield positions saw Bella Reidford and Rhema Lord-Mears return.

Following her goal in the Midlands Aimee Kelly was given a starting berth on the left, alongside striker and top scorer Elford.

A cagey start to proceedings saw most of the play take place in the middle of the pitch, with Chorley looking the most threatening without being able to work McAloon.

The Clarets started to click into gear around the half hour mark when Naomi Hartley came close to a second headed goal in as many games, but saw her effort hit the bar.

Action shots from win over Chorley

A fine Lord-Mears pass round the corner then set Kelly free and after a smart piece of skill, she also hit the woodwork with a curling effort.

Burnley eventually opened the scoring in the 39th minute and Elford had a key role in the creation, chesting the ball down and forcing Chorley ‘keeper Mollie Finch into a fine fingertip save.

The resulting corner was flicked into Elford’s path by a defender, and the striker produced an instinctive finish into the top left corner.

It was 2-0 in first-half stoppage time when Docherty’s long-range pass found Elford, who rounded Finch and teed up Logan to finish well from close range.

Chorley reduced the deficit four minutes after the restart when slack defending presented the ball to Rachel Unsworth, and her finish on the slide was too high for McAloon.

That sparked Lou Roberts’ side into life, with four efforts at goal in the space of two minutes.

After Hartley hit the bar for the second time on the night, she headed a corner narrowly wide. Kelly then cut in from the left and hit the frame of the goal too, with Elford’s rebound finding the arms of Finch.

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: CHORLEY 1-4 BURNLEY - Image 2

Burnley’s first two changes came just before the hour, with Reidford making way for Amelia Hazard and Walker replacing Elford.

Remarkably, the Clarets then hit the woodwork for a fifth time through Logan and that was the winger’s last involvement as she made way for Reanna Blades at the same time as Anna Grey replaced Kelly.

Two goals in three minutes then put the result beyond any doubt, and the first came when a Docherty corner was turned into her own net by Isabelle Parish.

Substitute Walker completed the scoring 11 minutes from time, reacting quickly after Brenna McPartlin’s shot was saved to finish low.

Roberts’ final change saw Grace Palmer replace Lord-Mears and the rest of the match passed without incident.

The Clarets have now won this competition in all three of the seasons that it has existed, scoring 22 times across the trio of finals.

Next up is a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday 30th March. The Northern Premier Division of the Women’s National League match kicks off at 2pm.

Burnley: McAloon, Docherty, Siddall, McPartlan, Logan (Blades 67), Lord-Mears (Palmer 83), Richards, Reidford (Hazard 58), Hartley, Kelly (Grey 67), Elford (Walker 58)

Unused Substitutes: Levell, Marshall

Chorley: Finch, Parish (Cook 83), Searson, Wade (Stanhope 58), Wood, Parker (Coward 75), Ritchie (Derbyshire 58), Newhouse, Worthington, Unsworth, Binks (Price 69)

Unused Substitutes: Fitzpatrick, Wright

Goals: Elford 39’, Logan 45+2, Unsworth 49’, Parish OG 76’, Walker 79’