WOMEN’S REPORT: BURNLEY 9-0 FLEETWOOD

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Clarets ease past Fleetwood to qualify for regional Challenge Cup Final

2022-03-02T22:11:03.892Z

WOMEN’S REPORT: BURNLEY 9-0 FLEETWOOD

Clarets ease past Fleetwood to qualify for regional Challenge Cup Final

2022-03-02T22:11:03.892Z

Clarets ease past Fleetwood to qualify for regional Challenge Cup Final

Burnley FC Women hit nine as they beat Fleetwood Town Wrens Ladies with a dominant performance in the semi-final of the Lancashire FA Cup on Wednesday night (March 2).

Back in action for the first time since January, the Clarets progression never looked under threat, and they will now face fellow FA Women’s National League North outfit AFC Fylde in the final of the regional competition.

Every member of the midfield and frontline which started the game got on the scoresheet with striker Evie Priestley netting a hat-trick at the County Ground in Leyland.

First Half

Burnley began the livelier of the sides and could’ve been ahead within two minutes as Mel Brown found space inside the area to meet a corner, but her header was saved by Fleetwood goalkeeper Pharyn Ashton.

Striker Evie Priestley did put the Clarets in front shortly after though, linking up with fellow forward Sarah Greenhalgh to burst into the box and finish past an onrushing Ashton.

Only a few minutes later, Priestley had her and Burnley’s second of the evening with the faintest of touches to send the ball in off the post having connected with Millie Ravening’s low drive.

And after chances passed for both Lizzie Hamer & Greenhalgh individually, the pair linked up on 25 minutes for the latter to head home a third at the County Ground, putting the Clarets into an unassailable position.

Chasing her hat trick, Priestley thought she’d added a fourth for the Clarets three minutes later as she latched onto a through ball and slotted past Ashton, but the offside flag denied her this time around.

Similarly, the forward was denied a stylish third on the half volley inside the area by Ashton’s fingertips as half-time approached, while Courtney Willis also found space to strike at goal but couldn’t direct her effort on target.

WOMEN’S REPORT: BURNLEY 9-0 FLEETWOOD - Image 1

Second Half

Three quickly became four at the restart, with Priestley sealing her hat trick on 49 minutes with a flicked finish after Dani Cooper had picked up Lizzie Hamer’s initial cross across the box and laid on for the striker to convert.

Two minutes later, it was five as Courtney Willis came out on top in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Ashton and got her name on the scoresheet.

At the other end, in a rare attacking position, Fleetwood captain Emily Jones fired a ball across the face of goal with nobody able to get on the end of it for the visitors.

Clarets’ own ‘keeper – and captain – Lauren Bracewell then saved a long-range free-kick in comfortable fashion before Burnley went back on the goal-scoring hunt.

Willis went close with a header on the hour mark before midfielder Ravening beat Ashton with a stunning volley from the edge of the area to increase the gap between the two sides.

Not wanting to be outdone by her teammate, Nic Worthington also netted with a thunderous strike at goal soon after given space to venture forward and try her luck, while just two minutes later, Hamer made it eight with a finish at the second time of asking having seen an initial effort rebound off the post.

On 69 minutes, as she had done in the first half, striker Priestley was denied by the offside flag having beaten Ashton once more, but the Clarets would net a ninth and final goal of the evening before the full-time whistle.

A late substitute, Lucia Molinari got into the box and took aim at goal, with the ball deflecting off a Fleetwood defender and into the back of the net.

WOMEN’S REPORT: BURNLEY 9-0 FLEETWOOD - Image 2

Lively to the very end, Priestley once more saw a shot saved on 79 minutes while daughter of former Burnley striker Andy Payton, Georgia, forced Bracewell into a save at the other end with a low drive.

With nine goals scored, a clean sheet secured, and a place in a cup final booked, the Clarets return to league action on Sunday afternoon when they welcome Wolves to the County Ground for a 2:00pm kick-off. Entry is free to all.

Burnley: Bracewell ©, Wilson, Brown, Dani Cooper, Dom Cooper (Molinari 65), Worthington, Ravening, Willis (Kelsh 70), Hamer, Priestley, Greenhalgh (Thomas 65)

Subs not used: Farrell, Dykes

Fleetwood: Ashton, Hunter, Emily Slater, Sophie Slater, Parkinson, Payton, Boswell, Haydock, Jones ©, Sarsfield, Wilcock

Subs: Hendry, Tulloch, Roe

Referee: Ben Wiseman

Goals: Priestley, ‘6, ’10, ’49, Greenhalgh, ’24, Willis, ’51, Ravening ’60, Worthington ’65, Hamer, ‘67, Own Goal, ‘77