Lancaster City Ladies convincingly beat Chipping to put pressure on league leaders

Lancaster City Ladies beat Chipping Ladies 7-1 in the Lancashire FA Women’s County League Division 1 North/West.

Sunday's result moves them into second – where Chipping were at the start of the day - and puts pressure on league leaders Whitehaven AFC who are four points ahead but have played two games more than the Dolly Ladies.

It was the first time since their reformation in the summer that they have played a league game at the Giant Axe, having played their previous home games on the pitches adjacent to the stadium, called the ‘Mini Axe’ by players and supporters..

Sunday’s game was the Dolly Ladies' last in Lancaster this season. They haven’t lost at home throughout the campaign, and have only lost once away in the league.

Captain Kayleigh Young scored four of Lancaster’s seven goals, which saw her become the league’s outright top scorer so far this season with 33.

Yasmine King got two goals either side of a Jody Campbell long-range drive.

From minute one, every player in blue looked up for the game. While Chipping had their chances in the first half, especially after going 1-0 down, a dominant midfield, really creative wing play and a clinical captain gave Lancaster a 4-0 lead going into half time, with Young getting all four and securing a hat trick before 20 minutes had been played!

All four goals were extremely well taken by the skipper, who left her marker for dead every time she got the ball. Her alertness, pace and physicality throughout the game were incredibly impressive, as was her poacher’s instinct which was especially evident with her second goal when she capitalised on Mandy Harrison dropping the ball into her path, and her fourth goal when she managed to get the ball over the line as Chipping bodies battled to keep it out.

There were several outstanding performances from players in the midfield and wings especially who made it so easy for the side to play the attacking football that manager Scott King wants to see – Steph Revie, Alison Hallam and Jody Campbell were particularly impressive with their creative play.

The defence, which included player of the match Louise Rothwell, put in fantastic performances all round. Lucy Askew in goal was calm and collected when called upon, and on the single occasion Chipping scored, the goal came from some strong attacking build up which the team could do little about: Lucy Askew made a smart save from Thea Mallett but Lauren Holderness was there on the rebound.

Yasmine King restarted Lancaster’s scoring spree on 75 minutes with a close range effort after the ball was spilled by Harrison. Jody Campbell added the side’s sixth with a nicely taken long range effort, before King bagged a brace with a header from a set piece.

Charlie Kingham could have made it eight from the penalty spot in the last action of the game, but her effort went over the bar.

However, it didn’t take anything away from a fantastic result and performance which pleased Scott King.

“It’s an absolutely brilliant performance, probably our performance of the season,” he told Beyond Radio. “The surface was much smoother and bigger (than the Mini Axe), we could play to our strengths and play the ball a lot better than at other places.”

In terms of the title race, Scott is taking it one game at a time, including the reverse fixture next week. “Every week is a big game, we have just got to keep going from there.

“Because they have played against us now, they will know what they are up against. It will probably be a closer scoreline next week.”

Kayleigh Young also spoke to Beyond Radio post-match. She was substituted off with a minor injury towards the end of the game, feeling dizzy after a Chipping player bumped into her. She was holding an ice pack to her face but was still in great spirits following such a great win.

“It was a really good performance, the girls were amazing. We pressed really well and played great football. It’s a new highlight of the season for me!”

Just like the manager though, the captain isn’t getting carried away.

“We take every game as it comes, next week they aren’t going to make it easy for us, they will probably adapt their game to us because of today.”

Lancaster City now have three crucial away games to end the league season, starting in the Ribble Valley against Chipping next Sunday (March 12), followed by visits to Cadley and Kendal Town (both dates TBC).

It would an incredible feat to win a league title in their first season as a reformed club, but the Dolly Ladies’ performance on Sunday made it more of a possibility.