Ladies make the perfect start to new campaign with home win

LEEK Town Ladies had a great start to their League campaign with victory against a good Stoke City Ladies team.

Leek started the first half very quickly and had good efforts from Rehanne Mellor and Chantelle Gallagher saved by the Stoke keeper early on. Leek opened the scoring on 16 minutes when Gallagher found Katie Gibbons on the left edge of the Stoke 18 yard box to fire home from an acute angle.

Stoke came back at Leek but the defence stood firm and made it difficult for Stoke to form any sort of attacks. Gallagher made was soon involved again and made it 2-0 on 28 minutes after good work from Michaela Lockett.

Straight after the restart

Leek won the ball and played forward again only for Mellor to be tripped. Midfielder Rhian Mellor ran onto the resultant free-kick and was unlucky to hit the crossbar with her effort.

Leek scored the third on 36 minutes when Gallagher again struck a good free-kick to beat the keeper for her second goal.

Stoke looked more determined in the second half with some good combination play and made a few chances which Leek dealt with.

A shot across the Leek goal which Katie Maya got her foot to resulted in a deflection which took the ball away from Leek keeper Hannah Austin and into the Leek net.

Stoke were back in the game and on 75 minutes they were awarded a penalty which was converted to bring game back to 3-2. Leek got their composure back.

Leek thought they had scored a fourth when Gibbons broke through but the goal was ruled out for an offside decision.

“We had a very good first half and it looked like game over, however Stoke got themselves back in the game in the second half and we had to play well for the three points, said manager Ian Smith..

LEEK: Hannah Austin, Emma Smith, Naomi Sale-hancock, Katie Maya, Simone Kelsall, Rhian Morris, Katie Gibbons, Michaela Lockett, Lacey-may Smith, Chantelle Gallagher, Rehanne Mellor, Chloe Brown, Elise Skelding, Kay Sheldon, Jules Kendrick.