Season ends in away defeat

BURTON Albion’s Women’s National League campaign came to a disappointing end as they were beaten 2-1 by Leafield Athletic at Dickens Heath Sports Club.

Five players from the Brewers’ girls teams were named in the matchday squad, with a first start in goal for Lola Smith.

Goals from Kathryn Pagan and Laura Broadbent in each half gave the home side a two-goal advantage, while the Brewers could only reply thanks to an own goal by a Leafield substitute 20 minutes from the end.

The visitors went close to an equaliser as skipper Amberleigh Denny struck a post with a free kick but the Brewers couldn’t salvage a point and finish 11th in the table.

Pagan opened the scoring when she beat Smith at the near post.

The Brewers responded when Hajrah Mahmood’s low cross picked out Millie Drinkhall but her tame effort was easily saved.

Drinkhall went close on two other occasions, while Danni Oxley saw a shot bobble wide.

Burton made the brighter start in the second half and Denny’s looping effort had the keeper back-pedalling but the ball finished on the roof of the net.

A dangerous cross from Drinkhall then seemed to be heading straight into the path of midfielder Milly Wortley but the Leafield keeper managed to dive in to claim.

The home side doubled their lead when an unmarked Broadbent prodded the ball past Smith from a corner.

Chantelle Teare then hit the crossbar after bursting past Denny.

After avoiding falling three goals behind, the Brewers got on the scoresheet when Mahmood’s cross caused havoc in the home penalty area and a Leafield substitute could only direct the cross into her own net.

Denny went close to a leveller but Leafield claimed the win, hitting the crossbar again in the closing stages.