Dewsbury Rangers 1 – 0 Middleton Park
West Riding County Women’s League
Middleton narrowly lost away from home at Dewsbury Rangers 1-0 in a tightly contested game that could have gone either way.
Middleton dominated the game in most parts and played the better football, but a fantastic strike from Emma Tootill sealed a narrow win for Dewsbury.
The two sides at the bottom of the table fought it out and Middleton will feel hard done by after having several chances to equalise.
The game started with both sides attempting to play good football on the ground and putting a string of passes together.
Dewsbury began to lob the ball over the top of the Middleton defence in an attempt to catch them out, however Middleton were wise to this and could easily defend.
However Dewsbury took the lead mid-way through the first half after a superb strike from Tootill. A dribbling run down the right ended in a powerful strike finding the top left-hand corner of the net just out of the reach of Anna Milde in the Middleton goal.
Middleton began the second-half on top and should have equalised when Natasha Bibby had a great chance after she was played through on goal with just the keeper to beat. Unfortunately with the on-coming defence putting pressure on her she put her left-footed wide of the goal and the chance went missing.
Middleton had a number of long-range shots but ones which their keeper managed easily save.
With Middleton pressing high for an equalising goal, Dewsbury almost doubled their lead when their striker beat the offside trap and was through on goal. However she took too long on the ball and Middleton defender Kady Lee managed to get back and clear the danger.
With the full-time whistle looming, Middleton went all out for an equaliser and with just seconds remaining on the clock they had their best chance of the game.
Milde in the Middleton net struck a massive goal-kick down field which Melissa Atkinson chased down and had a great chance to tap the ball past the Dewsbury keeper for a last-gasp equaliser.
Unfortunately she could only direct her shot straight at the Dewsbury keeper and the chance went away.
A disappointing result for Middleton who should have won the game after having the better chances and this result leaves them still rooted to the bottom of the league.
