City work out tricky Chorley test to move top

To caveat all about this game, it’s important to say it was windy. I don’t just mean, ‘there was some wind’ and it didn’t just disrupt the flow of the game, I mean: IT WAS WINDY. The kind of wind that Steven King writes seven hundred page novels about. There was wind

Chorley started the brightest. A powerful run down the right hand side by the packet Chorley winger, and a good cross had to be diverted over by the recovering Dawson at the back post

Moments later, Chorley again punished a mistake at the back, breaking well into the box and winning a penalty off the challenge from Jackman. Captain Laura Walker stepped up, but her effort hit the top of the crossbar and away

Then City started to play. Dawson played through Knight who weaves her way inside, before a curling effort was brilliantly tipped away by Mollie Finch in the Chorley goal

Knight again caused havoc, winning the ball back on the half way line before driving upfield and picking out the patient Lynskey. Her left footed pile driver again was tipped away by the visiting keeper

The best chance of the half fell to Brookes. Crawshaw regained the ball in midfield and slid in Knight. The winger then drove the ball into Brookes who’s stabbed effort whistled wide of the near post

Throughout the half, Wallace calm head kept plenty of Chorley efforts under control

HT 0-0

Now with the wind in their sails (literally) City came out with more intent in the second half

A incredible raking pass from Lynksey picked out Brookes who drove inside, but her effort was matched by the keeper

Brookes then repaid the favour moments later. A brilliant take and chipped cross found the onrushing Lynskey, who just couldn’t connect fully 5 yards from goal

Then came the opener…

Brilliant build up play from the Tigresses. Watters, Lynskey, Knight and the Tanser, who pulled a giant chip out of her bag, over the Chorley defence and into the on rushing Brookes. Shay then rounded the keeper and tapped home from 2 yards out

City didn’t stop: Ackroyd forced Finch into another fine save from a curling effort; and Lynskey had more than a fair shout for a penalty waived away

Chorley broke on a rare second half attack. Wallace stood tall and made an excellent initial save, and the Chorley striker poked it wide from a yard away. A let off

City went in search of a second. Lynskey connected perfectly from a Knight cross, but again Finch denied the Tigresses. From the resultant corner, Ackroyd was picked out on the edge to volley home the second. And exhale

FT 2-0