On Sunday afternoon, two goals in the second half of the match stole victory from Burnley, denying Stoke City a third straight FA Women’s National League triumph.
The hosts pulled even early in the second half with a goal from Rhema Lord-Mears, but Laura Elford’s game-winning kick gave the Potters the lead. Heidi Logan’s 16th goal of the season gave the high-flying Clarets the advantage.
At the Lancashire FA County Ground, the Potters got off to a strong start. Within the first five minutes, Logan poked a feed from Mia Leath just wide.
Shortly after, captain Roisin Kivel saved Marie Hourihan’s team from certain defeat by clearing the goal line and stopping Monique Robinson’s attempt to loop the ball.
In the twenty-first minute, Logan then had another chance to put City ahead when she grabbed onto another clever ball from Leath and swerved just beyond Kirstie Levell’s goal.
Midway through the first half, Hourihan’s team took the lead thanks to a brilliant goal by Logan, who was rewarded for her perseverance in front of goal after pickpocketing the ball from Georgia Marshall and firing past Levell.
The calm first-half goal was the on-loan Charlton Athletic forward’s 16th of a successful 23/24 campaign.
City went within inches of doubling their advantage shortly before the break when Leath bundled a Shannon Stamps cross wide of the hosts’ net.
Following an opening 45 during which Hourihan’s side asserted their dominance, it was the Clarets who applied the pressure in the early stages of the second half and substitute Elford sent an early warning when she fired over from 20 yards.
The hosts continued to push for an equaliser and found one with just 20 minutes to go when Lord-Mears cracked a shot from distance that beat Georgie Ferguson in City’s net and put the Clarets level.
The Potters responded well and almost restored their lead immediately when the ball fell to Saffron Jordan inside the hosts’ box, but her two goal-bound shots were bravely blocked by a Burnley defender.
Unfortunately, a 12-minute break in play then followed when Kayleigh McDonald was forced off due to an injury sustained in a challenge in the game’s stages.
After the break in play, City were thankful for an excellent stop from Ferguson, who used her foot to tip a shot from Elford around the post.
However, the late save wouldn’t be enough for Hourihan’s side to gain a point as, deep into injury time, Elford headed a Lizzy Hamer cross into the back of Ferguson’s net to secure all three points for the hosts.
The Potters were left to reflect on a competitive performance which returned less than it merited, though they’ll have the opportunity to bounce back next weekend when they host Halifax Town.
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