Copeland stars for Leek Ladies as they kick-off with home win

LEEK Town Ladies made a cracking start to their season in the West Midlands Regional Premier Division with a 5-1 home win over Redditch United.

Leek started the game well and pushed Redditch back. The pressure was rewarded on eight minutes when, from a free-kick, Chantelle Gallagher found Rhian

Morris to open the scoring for Leek.

After the restart Redditch played some good football and worked themselves a half-chance which was fired over the Leek crossbar.

Lucy Goodfellow picked up the ball in the Leek midfield and found Gallagher who again provided the assist for Alana Copeland who made it 2-0 to the hosts.

Another good move by Redditch forced Leek goalkeeper Beth Cottrell into making a good save diving to her left.

Leek made it 3-0 when Gallagher found Michaela Lockett who finished well.

For the final few minutes of the half Redditch pushed forward and the Leek back four worked hard to keep them out.

Redditch came out for the second half with determination and keeper Cottrell made two good saves.

Katie Gibbons supplied Amelia Robb who burst through on the Redditch goal with her shot hitting the post and going clear.

A few minutes later it was Gallagher who was through, but pulled her shot just wide of the post.

Redditch then had a good chance, but the striker was just wide of the target.

On 77 minutes Robb turned supplier for Paris O’connor who finished well to put the game beyond Redditch at 4-0.

A fantastic double save at close range by the Redditch keeper then denied the

Leek forwards and Redditch passed the ball up the field well and a good bending shot found the back of the Leek net to bring the score to 4-1.

In the Last minute Leek won a free-kick and Gallagher hit the bar from 20 yards, Lockett was following in and fired home for her second and Leek’s fifth goal.

Player of the match for Leek was awarded to Alana Copeland.

Leek: Cottrell, Brown, Sale-hancock, Rushton, Copeland, Morris, Goodfellow, Lockett, Gibbons, Robb,

Gallagher, Bromley, O’connor, Painter.