A brace from Kirk and a stunning strike from Mears helped claim three points in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands for the Posh Women after a 5-1 victory over Leafield Athletic Ladies on Sunday afternoon at Castle Vale Stadium.
It was a bright start as Posh seeked an early goal with Evie Driscoll-King crossing the ball into Emily Brett who aimed a shot goalwards, but her effort was blocked by Leafield’s defender. Minutes later Posh were denied again as Katie Middleton crossed the ball into Tara Kirk , but her efforts were intercepted by Kelcie Fallon.
The hosts also started strong, causing Driscoll-King to make an important tackle in the box that denied Kathryn Paean a clear shot on goal.
On 13 minutes there was a chance for Leafield as Seanna McCann-Lloyd had a go from inside the box but her efforts went over the crossbar. Soon after, Middleton was awarded a free kick after she was taken down in the box, but her shot was saved by goalkeeper Colette Bell, then narrowly cleared by the host’s defender.
Posh edged closer to breaking the deadlock after Niamh Connor headed the ball towards the net from a corner, but her efforts went over the crossbar. Minutes later Bell made a double save after Brett fired towards the goal after an excellent run into the box. The keeper’s deflection landed to Driscoll-King whose shot was also kept out of the net by Bell.
Posh took the lead on 29 minutes after Brett played a clinical through ball to Kirk who buried it in the bottom right corner. The linesman called it offside, but the referee awarded Posh the goal.
Posh doubled their lead on the 42nd minute where, despite being fouled, Brown played a lovely through ball to Kirk who once again buried the ball in the bottom corner. The hosts soon claimed a goal back after McCann-Lloyd scored from distance just before half-time.
After the break, Poppie Brown advanced into the box, but a goal-saving block from Talitta Chase denied her name on the score-sheet. Moments later, Posh were given a free-kick just outside the box after Middleton was taken down, Kirk seeked a hat-trick, but her effort went over the crossbar..
Jess Driscoll narrowly missed claiming a third goal after meeting the ball in the box from a corner, but her header cannoned off the post. Soon after there was a chance for Brown as her strike from the edge of the box was saved by Bell.
Driscoll-King claimed the third goal on 70 minutes, as she buried the ball in the back of the net from a tight angle.
Dan Lawlor made two changes on 75 minutes as Renai Bennett and Rebecca Mears came on for Meg Lawlor and Poppie Brown.
The hosts attempted to climb back as Paean advanced forward and had a go from the edge of the box, but her effort found the hands of Nieve Corry.
Lawlor made two final changes on 80 minutes as Frankie Pim and captain Keir Perkins came on for Emily Brett and Katie Middleton.
Rebecca Mears netted her first goal for the first team on 86 minutes after picking the ball up in the final third and scoring a rocket from distance- a wonderful moment after making her debut for the first team last weekend.
Bennett claimed a late, scrappy goal on 88 minutes making it five overall for the Posh.
POSH XI: Corry, Connor, Fletcher, Driscoll-King, Mugridge, Kirk, Lawlor (C) (sub Bennett 75min), Driscoll, Brown (sub Mears 75min), Middleton (sub Perkins 80min), Brett (sub Pim 80min).
Written by Lucy Bloxham.
- Photo credit: Darren Wiles