October 16, 2023 11:38 am
Clarets battle to hard fought draw against Magpies
Burnley FC Women picked up a point away from home as they drew 0-0 with Newcastle United at Kingston Park in the FA Women’s National League North.
Bridget Galloway missed a first half penalty in what was the biggest chance of the game, as Lois Marley-Paraskevas and Aimee Kelly went close for the Clarets in the second half.
The result means that both sides unbeaten run’s stay intact, as Burnley remain at the top of the table after eight games.
Rebecca Sawiuk made one change from the team that beat Halifax 2-0 on Wednesday night, with Kelly dropping to the bench and Laura Elford returning from the start.
First Half
The first real chance of the game came when Georgia Gibson fashioned an opportunity on the edge and struck towards goal, with Kirstie Levell tipping over at full stretch.
The Clarets then went up the other end and created an opening of their own, as the Magpies failed to clear a corner and the ball dropped for Elford who pulled a smart stop out of Grace Donnelly.
As the hosts gained a foothold in the game, Levell was called into action once more and was equal to Elysia Boddy’s hammered effort towards goal, before Boddy then prodded the rebound wide of the target.
Newcastle had an opportunity to take the lead before the break, as Gracie Prior brought down Kacie Elson and Galloway stepped up to take the spot kick, but placed her effort past the outside of the post and the scores remained level at the break.
Second Half
The Magpies started the second half strongly, as Levell – who was on top form – was forced to deny Emma Kelly who drilled the ball towards goal from the middle of the box before Elson volleyed over the bar.
Sawiuk’s side began to see a lot more of the ball after the hour mark, and Millie Ravening played through substitute Aimee Kelly, but her effort only dropped wide of the far post.
Rhema Lord-Mears then tried her luck from distance, and the ball dipped and swerved in front of Donnelly, who just about judged the flight of the ball to parry her strike away.
Ravening – who was at the heart of the Clarets forays forward in the second half – then found substitute Lois Marley-Paraskevas with a fantastic pass and the winger went one-on-one with Donnelly but could only dink her effort wide.
In what proved to be the last opportunity of the game, Kelly found herself in behind the hosts defence and tried to lift the ball over the head of Magpies captain Donnelly, but the ‘keeper just got her hand to it and denied the Clarets forward to ensure the points were shared.
The Claret Women are back in action next Saturday when they travel to the Emerys Stadium to take on Stoke City in the FA Women’s National League North (2pm KO).
Newcastle United: Donnelly ©, Watt, Bartle, Dodds, E Kelly, Gibson (McQuade ‘65), Elson (Ferguson ‘80), Galloway (Barker ‘74), Bedeau, Boddy, Potts
Unused Subs: Milne-Redhead, Greenwood
Burnley: Levell, Cooper (Wilkes ‘74), Marshall, Prior, Paul (c), McPartlan, Lord-Mears, Embley (Marley-Paraskevas ‘65), Ravening, Hamer (Coleman-Evans ‘52), Elford (A Kelly ‘52)
Unused Subs: Farrell
Goals: N/A
