Lancaster City Ladies through to next round of Challenge Cup

An incredible first half display from Lancaster City Ladies ensured they would go through to the next round of the LFA Women’s County League Challenge Cup.

The Dolly Ladies beat St Annes Ladies 5-1 at the Giant Axe, with ruthless performances from Kayleigh Young and Jody Campbell especially getting them the victory.

On a Sunday afternoon in which conditions changed from sunny to rainy to overcast, Lancaster had a very bright first 45 minutes, with Kayleigh Young getting a hat trick just before the half hour mark, Jody Campbell notching the Dolly Ladies’ fourth, and Young scoring again to round off the goalmouth action for Lancaster.

Young was named player of the match following a fantastic performance, contributing not just with goals but with physicality, great passing and clever positioning.

St Anne’s looked more threatening in the second half and Hannah Taylor-Hill gave them a consolation with around ten minutes remaining.

The game, watched by a crowd of 183 – the highest attendance the club have had for a ladies’ game – started evenly in the first 10 minutes, with neither team managing to get a foothold on the ball for a long period of time.

However, the Dolly Ladies settled into the game and got the first goal, Kayleigh Young getting her 36th of the season from a dead ball situation.

Young was far from done there. Just minutes later, she latched onto a long ball and cooly slotted it past the St Annes goalkeeper Becky Bridgewater, who was taken off in between the second and third goal.

Young completed her hat trick 30 minutes in, pouncing on her rebounded effort and giving the Dolly Ladies a comfortable lead.

Jody Campbell, another star player for the team this season, got on the scoresheet not long after, cutting out a back pass from the St Annes defence and lofting the ball over the keeper.

Lancaster, and Young, still had time for one more goal before the break – another poacher’s goal from the league’s top scorer to direct the ball into the top right hand corner.

St Annes missed a couple of one on ones in the early stages of the second half but finally got a goal ten minutes from time through Hannah Taylor-Hill.

The Dolly Ladies had chances to make it six but couldn’t convert, however it was still a comprehensive victory for Scott King’s side.

They have had a brilliant first season as a reformed ladies team, with some comprehensive victories along the way, including a 14-2 win over Blackpool Town Ladies and 13-1 victories against Cadley Ladies and Sir Tom Finney Development Women.

A dramatic 4-3 win over Chipping Ladies last weekend won them promotion to the LFA Women’s County League Championship for next season, and they still have a chance to put the icing on the cake and win the Division 1 North West.

They were due to play Kendal Town tonight (April 25) but the game has been postponed.