LADIES REACH STAFFORDSHIRE LADIES CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

In the Staffordshire Ladies Challenge cup at quarter final stage Stoke City Development knocked out their reserve team and Leek Town beat previous finalists Sporting Khalsa 1st. The final over the last several years has been between Stoke City 1st and Sporting Khalsa 1st so whatever the result of this semi-final we were guaranteed a new team in this seasons final.

Both teams started at a fast pace and were well organised. Paris O’Connor had the first half chance with a good turn and snap shot which just missed the target.
Stoke attacked down the middle with a good move and Naomi Sale Hancock made a timely interception just as the striker was about to shoot.
9 minutes in and Leek were awarded a penalty when Chantelle Gallagher was brought down in the box. Gallagher took the penalty giving the keeper no chance to put Leek 1-0 up
Shortly after the restart Rhian Morris won the ball and found Gibbons who got a shot away which was well saved by the Stoke keeper.
A good run down the flank by Gallagher saw her pass the ball across goal for the on running Michaela Lockett to score to put Leek 2-0 up.
Stoke won a corner which was only half cleared by Leek and fell to a Stoke player who forced Beth Cottrell into a good save.
On the next Stoke attack they got a good cross in from the left which found a striker who fired just wide of the target.
For the move of the game Chloe Brown won the ball on the right and sent Lockett away who found O’Connor and she played a first time ball for Gibbons to head over the goalkeeper and into the net.
The next Stoke attack nearly resulted in a goal but Emma Smith cleared the ball off the Leek goal line.
Liv Mountford who had looked dangerous down the Leek left all half got a great cross in which O’Connor was unlucky not to reach.
Half time Leek Town 3-0 Stoke City

Stoke came out for the second half looking to get back into the game and won two corners which the Leek defence dealt with. Some good football now being played by both teams. Gallagher again attacked down the flank and whipped the ball across the front of the Stoke goal for a Katie Gibbons tap in for her second and Leek’s fourth goal.
After a good passage of play by Stoke they got their rewards and pulled a goal back.
Amelia Robb won the ball in midfield and found Gallagher to set Lucy Goodfellow who hit the top corner from 25yds to make it 5-1.
Nearing the end of the game and Stoke with good combination play got into the Leek penalty area and were awarded a penalty after a challenge. The penalty was well taken bringing the score back to 5-2.

Final score Leek Town 5 - 2 Stoke City

Leek Town player of the match was Katie Gibbons (pictured)
Squad: Beth Cottrell, Chloe Brown, Naomi Sale-Hancock, Gina Rushton, Emma Smith, Rhian Morris, Katie Gibbons, Liv Mountford, Paris O’Connor, Michaela Lockett, Chantelle Gallagher, Lucy Goodfellow, Amelia Robb, Alana Copeland, Kirsty Ryder.

Leek will play Stoke City 1st in the final on 28th April