High five sends the Ladies clear

A FIFTH straight win moved Leek Town Ladies clear at the top of the West Midlands Regional Women’s League Division One North.

They beat Shifnal Town

4-1 with a performance that pleased manager Ian Smith.

He said: “It was a good all round team performance against a well organised, strong team.”

Leek started the game well and put pressure on the Shifnal goal.

A Lacey-may Smith crossshot in the 12th minute proved too much for the keeper to hold and Chantelle Gallagher scored from close range. Shifnal proved to be very competitive and forced keeper Hannah Austin into a save on 20 minutes.

A ball across the Shifnal penalty box found Rehanne Mellor in a good position but she couldn’t quite get a clean strike on the ball. Leek came out for the second half and continued to attack, Gallagher being challenged hooked the ball high into the Shifnal six yard box which was met by Rhian Morris, running in at the far post to convert the second goal for Leek.

Alice Painter hit a fierce shot which came back off the keeper for a second shot which this time hit Lacey-may Smith preventing the goal.

Gallagher a constant threat scored her second goal with a good turn just outside the box before running through to slot home for Leek’s third goal.

In the 80th minute Painter found Katie Gibbons who made no mistake in converting Leek’s fourth goal.

A stoppage then in the game whilst Morris had to be treated twice after bad challenges with the second one resulting in a red card for the opposition player and Shifnal were down to 10.

Shifnal never gave up though and got a striker through in the 84th minute who delicately chipped the on rushing Leek keeper to score.

Shifnal gave Rhian Morris as Leek player of the match.

BLUES: Austin, Brown, Salehancock, Maya, E Smith, Morris, Gibbons, Boon, Mellor, LM Smith, Gallagher, Painter, Kendrick, Lockett