WOMEN’S REPORT: LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 1-2 BURNLEY

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Claret Women strike late against Lightning to return to winning ways

2023-02-05T17:53:59.590Z

WOMEN’S REPORT: LOUGHBOROUGH LIGHTNING 1-2 BURNLEY

Claret Women strike late against Lightning to return to winning ways

2023-02-05T17:53:59.590Z

WOMEN’S SEASON REVIEW: PART TWO - Image 3

Burnley FC Women were victorious on the road in their first league game for close to three months, winning 2-1 at Loughborough Lightning with a 94th minute winner from Emma Taylor.

In a frantic second half, Ellie York hammered in her second goal of the season 10 minutes after Lightning captain Kayleigh Hines was sent-off for a poor challenge on Ella Kinzett.

Loughborough equalised from the penalty spot through Georgia Stevens, before a last-minute scramble following a corner was looped in by Taylor on the line to secure the three points for Jonathan Morgan’s side.

The boss made seven changes to the side that bowed out of the FA Cup a week earlier with Lucy Walsh, Dom Cooper, Alanta Brown & Millie Ravening the only players to keep their place in the starting 11.

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New signing Laura Elford was one of the seven to come in, taking her place in a front two with a returning Evie Priestley. Meanwhile, Loughborough also started their new addition Demi Edwards.

First Half

Burnley started the better as Ravening went close with a strike from the edge of the area, and only goalkeeper Kiya Webb denied her from putting Burnley in front soon after with another effort.

York and Ella Kinzett also came close to opening the scoring as Morgan’s side continued to assert their dominance in the early stages of the game.

Priestley was the next to carve out an opportunity, Webb scrambling well to keep out an overhead kick from a free-kick whipped in by Dom Cooper.

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Webb was again on hand to deny Ravening from a free-kick before the first half was out, while Lizzie Hamer’s looping effort from range bounced on top of the net rather than underneath the crossbar with the sides level heading into the interval.

Second Half

Lauren Bracewell comfortably saved an early second half header from Lightning defender Mikayla Wildgoose before Loughborough captain Hines, who had already been booked, saw a straight red for her reckless challenge on Kinzett.

Before the Claret Women could make their player advantage count though, Elford was sin-binned for adjudged dissent, shown a yellow card and given 10 minutes off the pitch as a result.

Morgan’s side however did go in front through full-back York on 64 minutes. After Hamer crossed in from the left and Priestley flicked on, York was on hand to hammer home from an acute angle at the back post.

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Goalscorer York was then adjudged to have fouled a Lightning forward in the box at the other end and Stevens stepped up to convert the equaliser from the penalty spot.

As Elford returned to the field, Burnley almost put themselves back in front through Priestley who did well to work an effort when surrounded by numerous Loughborough bodies, but her effort dropped just wide.

And deep into time added on, when it looked as though the Claret Women would be forced to settle for a point despite their dominance, the winner came.

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Cooper’s corner bounced around the area before centre back Taylor adjusted well with quick reactions to loop the ball back over her shoulder and into the back of the net.

The Claret Women take on Loughborough again next Sunday – 12th February – in the reverse league fixture at the County Ground, Leyland (2pm KO).

Loughborough: Webb, Strauss, Wildgoose (Sharpe ’66), Walters, Taft, Hateley, Hines ©, Edwards (Johnson HT), Powell, Stevens, Middleton (Richardson ‘90+1)

Unused Subs: Harder, Habbits

Burnley: Bracewell, York, Taylor, Walsh, Cooper, Brown (Aherne ‘73), Kinzett, Ravening, Hamer, Priestley, Elford (Embley ‘76)

Unused Subs: Molinari, May, S Greenhalgh

Goals: York, ‘64, Stevens, ‘69, Taylor, ‘90+4