Keighley Ladies 2-3 Brighouse Sports Ladies.
Brighouse made it nine wins from nine games against a very strong Keighley side who they had previously never beaten.
Brighouse couldn't of started worse, and from Keighleys first attack they took the lead. A corner was floated into the centre and the Keighley centre back powered a strong header into the top of the net. Keighley continued to attack and forced a number of corners, but Brighouse defended them well. Brighouse began to grow into the game, and started to create chances, Vanessa Holroyd had a shot blocked by the keeper, then Sarah Hemingways shot was also well saved, but the keeper could do nothing about Debbie Tomlinsons 25yard strike, but unfortunately for her and Brighouse, the ball cannoned back off the crossbar. The equaliser eventually came in the 25th minute as Tomlinsons surge into the area was brought to abrupt halt by a cynical trip, and Leanne Smith coolly despatched the spot kick. Brighouse continued to create chances and Lauren Doyle just fired over after a great move, then Smith tried a cheeky chip the just cleared the crossbar, and on the stroke of half time Hemingway had two efforts blocked in a goalmouth scramble.
Brighouse started the second half strongly Holroyd smashed a 30 yarder just over the bar and Smiths cross was taken off the toes of Hemingway by the brave keeper, and Hemingway was once again thwarted by the keeper. Keighley tried to get back in yhe game but Brighouse were working hard non more so than the tenacious Alex Sweeney in midfield who hardly allowed the Keighley playmaker a kick. The back four were all standing firm too, Sheridan Drake, Charlotte Reid, Paige Green and Leanne Webster all working hard and getting important challenges in to ensure keeper Linzi Scarfe was rarely troubled.
Leanne Smith continued to cause problems for the hosts and in the 75thminute she tote through the defence and played a great ball through to Tomlinson who tapped in from three yards for her first goal for the club. Three minutes later it was three one, Reids corner was headed out to Smith who volleyed home acrobatically into the top corner from the edge of the area for a wonder goal.. Brighouse went to kill the game off, and Holroyd was unlucky as the keeper pulled off another fantastic save, and Doyle smacked the rebound against the post from.
Keighley were given a lifeline with five minutes remaining which was calmly despatched, but Brighouse kept the ball up by the corner flag, and could well have had a penalty when Doyle appeared to be clipped in the area, but they played time out for a very important victory and three valuable points.
On Monday the 17th March Brighouse Sports Ladies are in action at the FA County Headquarters Woodlesford Leeds, in the Womens County Cup Semi Final against Bradford City Ladies with a 7:30pm kick off. It is a fantastic achievement by the ladies to reach this stage of the tournament and they are up against quality opposition in Bradford City who are five leagues above them, so they would be very grateful of any support they could get.
