Ladies secure place in cup quarter-final

LEEK Town ladies are through to the West Midlands Regional League Cup quarterfinal following a 6-0 win over Shrewsbury.

A fantastic first 15 minutes for Leek all but put this cup tie beyond the Shrews.

Seven minutes in and a Chantelle Gallagher free-kick found its way through to Alice Painter who chipped the ball over the keeper to put Leek in front. Leek won the ball back shortly after the restart and Katie Gibbons ran through from midfield and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper to double Leek’s tally.

Just before the quarterhour mark and a good run down the left by Michaela Lockett, who then cut inside the box before side stepping a defender and firing into the roof of the net.

Rhian Morris had a good run through from midfield striking the inside of the Shrewsbury post with the ball coming back across the goal line before being cleared.

Just before half-time and another free-kick by Gallagher found Alana Copeland who turned the ball into the path of Lockett to score her second and Leek’s fourth.

The second half was much more competitive with Emma Smith and Naomi Salehancock both making tackles to prevent shots on goal.

Right-back Chloe Brown also kept the speedy Shrewsbury left winger out on more than one occasion. Kirsty Ryder was competing well in the Leek midfield after receiving a tough challenge in the first half.

The fifth goal for Leek arrived when Beth Cottrell and Gallagher combined before Gallagher unleashed a shot which the goalkeeper could not keep out.

Leek continued to attack with Gallagher and Cottrell combining again with good one touch play before

Cottrell slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner for the sixth goal for Leek to round off the scoring.

Squad: Hannah Austin, Chloe Brown, Naomi Sale-hancock, Emma Smith, Alana Copeland, Kirsty Ryder, Rhian Morris, Alice Painter, Katie Gibbons, Michaela Lockett, Chantelle Gallagher, Katie Maya, Jules Kendrick, Simone Kelsall, Beth Cottrell, Lacey-may Smith.

Leek Ladies will now face Sandwell Ladies in the quarter-final at Harrison Park on February 10 at 2pm.