Ella double as Brewers women hit five in cup
BURTON Albion Women began their FAWN League Cup campaign with a 5-2 away win against Bedworth United Ladies.
They shrugged off falling behind early to a Bedworth side who have yet to secure a point in the FAW Midlands Division to lead 3-1 by halftime and stood firm when Bedworth got it back to 3-2 after the break.
Less than 30 seconds had gone when Kirsty Farnsworth put Bedworth in front.
Stealing the ball from the toe of Charlotte Jarvis, Farnsworth kept her composure and powered a shot past goalkeeper Charlotte Heggs.
But the Brewers reacted well and did not take long to equalise.
Breaking on the counter, Ella Ritchie led the charge up the left before squaring the ball and Emily Gillott, one on one with Bedworth keeper Emma Dell, sidefooted the ball across her and into the net.
Farnsworth was still dangerous for the home side and almost profited from a mix-up in the Burton defence, benefiting from her hard work pressing. However, she was denied by a sliding interception by Charlotte Jarvis.
The Brewers then took the lead. A corner was cleared to the feet of new signing Beth Naqwi, who slid a shot out of reach of Dell.
It was soon three – and two for Gillott as she beat the offside trap and rounded Dell before shooting past two defenders on the line.
Bedworth reacted strongly and got back into the game through Charlotte Taylor.
She found space on the left of the box and shot home despite Heggs getting fingertips on the ball.
Once again, after that, Bedworth came close to equalising.
Jodi Hunter powered the ball across the box, evading the Burton defenders but, fortunately for them, also Farnsworth, who was unlucky to see the ball speed past her outstretched foot.
Burton began to nullify the Bedworth attack, wrestling back the control they had midway through the first half.
Chances started to come and the Brewers hits the post through Dannie Oxley after Gillott, at the heart of much of the attacking, picked her out in the box.
Albion had the feeling that one goal would put the tie beyond Bedworth and Hanaiya Azhar got it, within a minute of coming off the bench.
She was found by Ritchie and flicked the the ball past a defender before curling a shot into the top corner, off the underside of the bar on its way in.
Ritchie completed a hat-trick of assists 10 minutes before then end.
This time she set up another substitute, Emmalee Hornsby, who charged down the right and into the box before driving a shot low into the far corner.