WOMEN’S REPORT: BURNLEY 1-0 LOUGHBOUROUGH LIGHTNING

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Claret Women record second successive win over Lightning

2023-02-12T17:15:59.507Z

WOMEN’S REPORT: BURNLEY 1-0 LOUGHBOUROUGH LIGHTNING

Claret Women record second successive win over Lightning

2023-02-12T17:15:59.507Z

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Burnley FC Women were victorious as they returned to the Lancashire FA County Ground for their first home league game in almost four months with a 1-0 win against Loughborough Lightning.

Leah Embley scored the only goal on her return to the side, in a game that was largely dominated by the Claret Women.

Jonathan Morgan made two changes to the team that beat today’s opponents a week ago, with match winner Embley returning alongside Sarah Greenhalgh as Laura Elford and Lizzie Hamer were the ones to drop out.

New signing Lara Miller also made the bench for the first time in her Burnley career.

First Half

The Claret Women made a bright start to the game, with Embley crossing low into a Lightning defender who deflected the ball into Kiya Webb’s hands and Millie Ravening heading the ball narrowly wide.

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Moments later Ravening had an even bigger opportunity to put Burnley in front as she broke through the Loughborough defence before seeing her low strike stopped well by Webb.

Ravening was involved once more as she flicked on a Dom Cooper corner, into the path of forward Evie Priestley who prodded the ball towards goal, only to be denied by Webb palming the ball behind.

It was Priestley at the forefront of the next Claret Women attack as Embley whipped the ball in from the right wing and the latter adapted brilliantly to connect with a scorpion kick towards goal, that Webb held well.

Greenhalgh was the next to attempt to break the strong Lightning defence, as full back Dom Cooper kept a cross alive to loop the ball back into the box, Alanta Brown flicked on and the returning forward Greenhalgh was inches away from tapping the ball home.

Burnley had two more good chances to break the deadlock before half time, as Embley’s powerful strike was palmed away by Loughborough ‘keeper Webb and Ellie York drove a half volley towards goal that was cleared off the line.

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Greenhalgh then sent a diving header over, as the teams went into the break level.

Second Half

The Claret Women started the second half as quickly as they finished the first as Morgan’s side saw yet another effort cleared off the line with Greenhalgh the one to strike towards goal.

Burnley’s hold on the game would finally pay off as winger Embley was found by a superb long pass over the top of the defence by Ravening, which she took in her stride before powerfully finishing past Webb just before the hour mark.

Embley almost made it two, as yet another shot was cleared off the line by Loughborough as the winger almost produced a carbon copy of her goal moments earlier.

Ten minutes from time the Clarets almost sealed the victory as Ravening met a cross brilliantly on the volley, but her effort looped just wide of the far post.

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That proved to be the final chance of the game, as Burnley sealed three points, and back-to-back victories over Lightning.

The Claret Women are back in action ten days from now – Wednesday 22nd February – when they host AFC Fylde in the Northern Premier Division of the FA Women’s National League (7:45pm KO GMT).

Burnley: Bracewell ©, York (Molinari ’81), Taylor, Walsh, Cooper, Brown (Miller ’72), Kinzett, Ravening, Embley (Coleman-Evans ’72), Priestley, S Greenhalgh (May ’62)

Unused Subs: Farrell

Loughborough Lightning: Webb, Strauss, Walters, Taft, Sharpe ©, Hateley, Johnson, Patterson (Richardson ’85), Powell (Edwards ’88), Stevens, Middleton (Quaintance ’88)

Unused Subs: Habbits

Goals: Embley, ‘57