BURNLEY FC Women bounced back from last weekend’s defeat at Stoke with a well-earned 2-0 victory over Loughborough Foxes at Padiham FC.

After a goalless first half where both teams failed to convert their chances, the Clarets took the lead when Olivia Greenhalgh scored her first goal for the team before a late own goal sealed the win.

Loughborough started strongly but a fine goalkeeping display by Emily Gibbins in the Clarets goal kept them at bay in the early exchanges.

The game started at a fast pace with both teams pressing forward in turn. Loughborough had the first good chance when a long ball floated into the Clarets area and a glancing header off a striker forced a quick reaction by keeper Emily Gibbins and ensured the effort was deflected over the bar. Gibbins then cleared a loose ball with her feet from the resulting corner.

The Clarets first attack saw Evie Priestley toppled in the area when she challenged a defender, but the referee waved away claims for a penalty.

The visitors continued to build on that early pressure and forced a series of free kicks and corners but some desperate defending by Burnley made sure the game remained goalless.

The Clarets finally got a foothold in the game and Emily Wilkinson raced down the left side and crossed for Evie Priestley who saw her tame effort saved by Alex Stephens in the Boro goal.

Stephens was also instrumental in blocking the next Clarets attack, Priestley threading a perfect pass through to Lizzy Hamer who was denied as Stephens raced out of her area to block the effort.

Priestley then fired wide of the target and, in the Clarets' best chance of the half, was denied by another Stephens save.

Loughborough had a late chance in the half when Laura Steel forced Gibbins in to a great diving save.

In the second half the Clarets grasped the initiative, but good chances were few and far between.

Stephens was the first keeper called in to action to deny Priestley yet again after good work from Rathburn before Gibbins was called in to action at the other end following a quick breakaway attack.

Clarets boss Matt Bee made a couple of substitutions and it paid dividends as Kelly Halligan made an immediate impact as she chased down a loose ball and crossed for Greenhalgh who neatly flicked the ball beyond the diving Stephens.

The Clarets continued to press forward and Kenedy Owen tried her luck from distance forcing Stephens to parry her effort. Boro went in search of an equaliser but Cara Bickett and Mel Brown were both solid in the centre of the Clarets defence to quickly repel any threat that the visitors posed.

The Clarets finally grabbed a second goal as the game entered injury time. A long kick out from Gibbins was collected by Rathburn who ran wide of the keeper and crossed towards Priestley but a retreating defender got a touch on the ball and it deflected it in to her own goal.

Burnley FC Women host Hull City Ladies on Sunday at Padiham FC (2pm ko) before another home game against Huddersfield Town Women on Wednesday, March 18 (7.45pm ko).

Entrance is £3 for adults, £1 for under 16s.