Headers and hearts secure hard earned winning FAWNL return

City overcame the leagues most dogged side to secure an invaluable three points in their return to league action, following last weeks cup exploits.

Hope Knight returned to the starting line up, following her suspension, and City boasted 6 teenagers in the match day squad, with Rowen Crawshaw and Louise Dealtry-Todd returning to the 16.

Racing commentators would have described it as Good-to soft in places and children’s authors have written books about such blustery day’s down at the Norton Sports Complex. Neither contributed to the purist football of the season to date.

City took the lead inside 5 minutes. Ackroyd powered down the right wing and wriggled enough room to swing in a cross to the near post, where Captain Tanser arrived, flicked and dispatched brilliantly.

Moments later the skipper made it two. A corner wasn’t cleared and after some good footwork from Lynskey, Jackman clipped a perfect ball in the back post where Tanser arrived again.

Further chances came and went, with Lynskey firing over on the second attempt after a good save initially denied Knight. Ackroyds movement opened the best spaces throughout the first half.

Norton pulled one back. Jackman adjudged to have handled in the box, (with her shoulder…) and the ever willing Owens scored her first of the afternoon from the spot

Then the hosts equalised. A mix up at the back from a long ball found it’s way all the way through. Owens was there to happily slot home and take her second.

HT 2-2

If the wind played a part in the first half then it certainly did in the second. The ball encased in Norton territory, travelling that little quicker further forward.

Chances were created throughout. Brookes, introduced early in the half, caused problems down the wing, earning a number of corners that on the day were looking the most likely way in for the Tigresses. Resolute and determined defending denied Lynskey and Hunt from close range.

Then from a freekick, Symington delivered perfectly. Tanser met it at the back post, and Lynskey on the line tapped home to restore the lead.

Later Knight hit the post from range and Symington fired over.

Youngsters Dealtry-Todd, making her first, First Team appearance since recovering from a knee injury, and Crawshaw both came into the food late on to secure the win.

FT 3-2

Wallace; Watters, Wilson, Jackman, Symington; Hunt, Copsey (Brookes 55), Ackroyd (Crawshaw 75), Tanser (C); Lynskey, Knight (Dealtry-Todd 88)