Leek CSOB Ladies 1 – Stone Dominoes Ladies 4: Stone started the game well and put Leek on the back foot from the off, creating a couple of half chances and winning a couple of corners. Stone got the breakthrough on 15 minutes when a Kerry McCourt corner was met by Holly Fowell at the back post controlling it on her chest and rifling the ball into the roof of the net.
But Stone then dropped off and allowed Leek to get back into the game and it became a bit scrappy, with both teams making mistakes and losing possession. Leek got more involved in the game winning all the 50-50 balls, whilst Stone just sat back and let them play. From this poor part of the game Leek got an equaliser which stunned the away side and it took a while for Stone to wake up again.
Both teams created chances during the last 10 minutes of the first half but the Dominoes finally regained the lead just before half time when another McCourt corner came in, Leek failed to clear the ball and it fell to central defender Hayley Mason who struck the ball home to make it 2-1 to the visitors. Mason is proving to be an important team player in the Dominoes set-up as this was her 10th goal of the season, not bad for a central defender and showing she is one of the best defenders in the league.
After the break Stone started off the second half a little more settled and kept possession a lot better playing it around the park and it wasn’t long into the half before they extended their lead. A through-ball from midfielder Lauren Ward was chased by striker Vikki Garner who managed to beat the outrushing goalkeeper to bravely poke the ball into the empty net making it 3-1 to the Dominoes. Stone continued to press forward and created more chances for their strikers but nothing came of it, Holly Fowell came close to netting her second as well as Lydia Bennion missing out on getting her name on the score sheet.
With 15 minutes to go Stone sealed the three points with a fourth and final goal. Another quality corner, this time played in by Holly Fowell, and the ball bounced down to the feet of central midfielder Nat Price who casually placed the ball into the bottom corner of the net to get her 10th of the season and Stone Dominoes Ladies 100th goal in 18 games, giving them the best goal difference in the league. Stone Dominoes striker and the league’s top goal scorer Mollie Prime had a quiet game and didn’t manage to add any further goals to her tally – she has scored a massive 28 in the league so far in 17 games.
It was an average performance from Stone but another three points keeps the pressure on league leaders Shrewsbury Town. Player of the match was Hayley Mason, who had another brilliant game in defence.
[box type=”info” align=”aligncenter” ]The Ladies take on Kidsgrove Ladies away this Sunday, 2pm kick-off[/box]
AFC Telford U16 Girls 5 – Stone Dominoes U16 Girls 0
Stone crashed out of the U16 Girls League Cup against a strong Telford side last Saturday at the semi-final stage. Stone, who are made up of mainly U15 girls, took on a much more experienced Telford U16 team who dominated the possession for most of the game, making the Dominoes work hard and defend. A couple of times Stone broke free but the strikers were soon closed down before any shots were taken. Stone are still top of the Shropshire Girls U16 Division RED, though, and are looking strong and confident for the rest of the season.
