West Riding County Women’s League-Division Two
Middleton Park Ladies 3-5 Dewsbury Rangers
Bottom of the table battle sees Dewsbury Rangers Ladies come out on top after a 5-3 victory over Middleton Park.
It was an end to end game with Middleton playing with a man short. However it was a thrilling encounter by two teams who desperately needed the points to bounce up the league.
Middleton took the lead through Alice Molleworth when her looping shot from the left-hand side was too powerful for the Dewsbury keeper. Dewsbury were quick to equalise after their forward managed to beat the offside trap and slot past Natasha Bibby in the Middleton net. Shortly after Dewsbury took the lead with a cool finish into the bottom right-hand corner.
It wasn’t long before Middleton were back in the game after a fantastic goal from Sophie Sterling on the edge of the box drifted over the keeper. It was nothing more than Middleton deserved following good link up play between the midfield and forwards.
But with the extra man advantage Dewsbury kept getting chances to take the lead and had a number of chances saved by Bibby in goal. An exciting game with the score 2-2 at half-time.
Dewsbury took the lead early on in the second half with Senior slotting home after Middleton failed to clear. They then made the score 4-2 in their favour after Jodie Bunchan beat the offside trap to run clear of the defence and score a simple goal in the bottom left-hand corner.
With both teams battling for the win it wasn’t long before Middleton closed the gap on Rangers. Melissa Atkinson managed to get onto the end of Kady Lee’s cross and she slotted past the keeper to make it 4-2.
However Dewsbury sealed the victory late on after Bunchan scored her second goal of the game to seal all three points for Rangers.
The defeat will be tough to take for Middleton after playing well throughout the game with a player less. This will give them confidence for next week when these two sides meet again with the hope of a different outcome.
