Ladies battle to win against rivals and storm clear at top

AFC Telford United 1 Leek Town Ladies 2

LEEK Town Ladies are nine points clear at the head of the West Midlands Regional League Division One North after a seventh straight win saw them come from behind to beat second-placed AFC Telford United on Sunday.

In their toughest test of the league season so far, Blues were behind after just 10 seconds, but Katie Gibbons soon equalised, before Chantelle Gallagher got the winner from the penalty spot before half-time.

Manager Ian Smith said: “I am pleased with our performance and the result.

“All of our players put a shift in because Telford are a good side and played well.”

From the Telford kick off, Leek were caught out by the long diagonal ball which was played into their forward, who hit a good shot which Leek keeper Hannah Austin got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

Leek kept calm and played some good football. Rhian Morris,

pictured, and Katie Maya were both doing well in midfield screening the defence and also breaking up play to provide ammunition for the Leek forwards.

A long ball from Leek keeper Austin found Gallagher, who in turn found the on-running Gibbons to level the scores on 18 minutes.

Gallagher was through again two minutes later only to see her shot hit the post and back out to Laura-may Smith, who fired just wide.

Both teams now playing well and a good contest in midfield and Leek’s back four giving nothing away.

Leek were in again on 35 minutes but ruled offside.

A penalty was awarded just before half time which Gallagher converted well put Leek in front.

Leek started the second half on the front foot and Gibbons again was in for a one on one with the Telford keeper, who made an excellent save.

Telford then combined well and got a good shot away on the Leek goal which was just wide of the target.

The Leek forwards found themselves frustratingly offside on several occasions.

After 63 minutes, Gallagher rounded the Telford keeper but could only find the side netting from an acute angle.

Telford looked for an equaliser and Leek’s back four of Chloe Brown, Naomi Sale-hancock, Emma Smith and Simone Kelsall worked very hard to keep them out.

On the next Leek attack Gibbons steered the ball across to Alice Painter but she couldn’t quite get her shot away.

A good run from Beth Cottrell around the back of the defence looked promising but she couldn’t quite pull the ball back for the Leek forwards. Emily Boon also put a good cross into the box which the Leek forwards couldn’t quite meet.

Maya then had a good shot from distance which the keeper just got a hand to.

Gibbons then had a good run through on goal but went down injured badly twisting her ankle when the tackle came in.

Both Gibbons and Gallagher had to leave the field and were replaced by Michaela Lockett and Alanya Tezgel – making her debut for the first team.

The game was played out with Leek trying to maintain possession in the dying minutes.

BLUES: Austin, Brown, Salehancock, E Smith, Kelsall, Morris, Maya, Painter, Gibbons, LM Smith, Gallagher, Cottrell, Boon, Lockett, Tezgel