Women’s FA Cup

Second Round

Burnley FC Women 2

Hull City Ladies FC 1

AN IMPRESSIVE performance by Burnley FC Women’s goalkeeper Lauren Bracewell and two goals by Sarah Greenhalgh saw the Clarets fight back to beat Hull in the Women’s FA Cup.

The Clarets entered the competition with the other 23 teams that make up the FA Women’s National League at the second round proper. Their elevated league status allowed them to evade four qualifying rounds and the first round proper.

Hull City Ladies have had a difficult start to the campaign but put on a commanding first half performance. The game started at a frantic pace with the Clarets first on the offensive before Hull responded with a long ball forward where Cara Bickett chased down the threat.

An early chance from the Clarets resulted when a nicely weighted cross from Dani Cooper was met in front of goal by Evie Priestley but her scuffed effort missed the target.

Playing down the Padiham FC slope, Hull started to pin the Clarets back. And from a corner, Helen Lynskey forced Bracewell to superbly tip the ball over the bar with a shot on the turn.

Hull continued to control the game - winning the midfield battle and taking advantage of a strong wind - and took the lead when a back-pass was intercepted by the visitors, forcing Bracewell to hurry her clearance and Harley Skinner fired in to the unguarded net.

In the latter stages of the half, the Clarets got back into the game and a Sarah Agger through ball found Greenhalgh who forced the Hull keeper in to a brave save.

Hull hit back and tested Bracewell at her near post where she dived to push the ball out for a corner.

But the Clarets got a much-needed equaliser when Kenedy Owen found Levi Rathburn, and although she was beaten to the ball by the Hull keeper, her clearance fell to Greenhalgh who cleverly lobbed over the defence from 20 yards into the open net.

The second half proved a much tighter affair; Evie Priestley had an early chance snuffed out while Emily Smith saw her long range effort force Bracewell to make another spectacular save.

Moments later, Bracewell was called in to action again in what proved to be a crucial save.

For moments later, the Clarets went ahead when Owen’s cleverly flick released Greenhalgh to shoot beyond the Hull keeper.

Burnley FC Women have home advantage in the third round when they host Nottingham Forest Women FC at Padiham FC’s Ruby Civil Arena on Sunday, January 5.

The Clarets are back in league action on Sunday and it is a quick return for Hull who return to East Lancashire.

* Burnley FC Women’s Reserves enjoyed a resounding 9-0 win at Hull City Reserves with Bethany Waring hitting a hat-trick while Jade Foster and Grace Turner scored two each. Ami Phelan and Reanna Fennell were also on target.