Leek Town U15 Girls Stage Dramatic Fight Back

Leek Town started the first half well and on their first real attack the ball was passed to Elise Skelding who sprinted down the wing before cutting inside and with a looping shot beat the Lichfield keeper to open the scoring for Leek, this was no fluke as Skelding scored a near identical goal in the last game.

From the restart however Lichfield piled on the pressure and the Leek defence who had only conceeded 9 goals so far this season were being tested to the limit. Lichfield then forced a corner and from this managed to force the ball into the Leek net 1-1

The Leek forwards Kayleigh Barnes and Alice Naden managed to get a couple of shots in at the Lichfield goal but both went wide. Naden in particular was being given some rough treatment by the Lichfield defenders and from a resultant free kick Isabel Wretham had a good attempt on the Lichfield goal saved by the keeper.

On a Lichfield attack down the right a long distance shot beat the Leek keeper and dropped into the back of the net 2-1 Lichfield. This unsettled Leek and Lichfield again piled on the pressure and a Lichfield forward picked up the ball on the outside of the area and ran on to score 3-1 Lichfield. Leek were then holding on and were glad to get to half time.

Leek changed formation for the second half and packed the midfield with just Alice Naden up front. Kirsty Ryder was beginning to win more of the ball in the middle with Lucy Kelsall giving good support to Alice Naden.

Leek then forced a corner and the ball bounced in the box for Elise Skelding to head into the Lichfield net 3-2. This was just what Leek needed and they were now having their best spell of the game with several good attacks and Amber Stanway had a good shot just wide of the Lichfield goal. Naden had to leave the field for a few minutes after another bad tackle which cut her leg.

Leek continued on the front foot, and the ball broke across the middle of the Lichfield 18 yard box which Elise Skelding just beat a defender to get to the ball which she hit first time into the back of the net to complete a terrific individual performance. 3-3. Leek continued the pressure and were going for the winner but ran out of time. Full time Lichfield 3-3 Leek Town.

MoM Elise Skelding

Leek Town now 3 points clear at the top of the league but second placed Vale have a game in hand.

Leek Team: Hannah Austin, Emma Smith, Charlotte Bromley, Isabel Wretham Mollie Shaw, Lucy Kelsall, Kirsty Ryder, Amber Stanway, Elise Skelding, Kayleigh Barnes, Alice Naden, Eleanor Degg, Rosie Atkinson.