Florence 5          Willenhall Town 3
                         
Willenhall fell to their first league defeat of the season against a much improved Florence outfit, who, are now a serious threat to Willenhall's title hopes.

With a depleted squad the Reds had their two new signings Tara Martin & Leila Hopkins in the starting line-up, Tara having to play out of position at centre-half alongside the only defender in the side Sherrylee Boon.

Florence took the lead on five minutes when they slotted home, after some sloppy play by the Reds & they then doubled their lead on 11 minutes with a well taken strike.

The Potteries side could have increased their lead even further on 21 minutes, but Willenhall keeper Lizzie Potts pulled off a tremendous save.

Willenhall had a rare attack on 34 minutes when Abi Riley broke clear of the defence, unfortunately the keeper got a hand to the ball and it was cleared off the line.

Some neat play between Abi Riley & Leila Hopkins on 40 minutes saw Leila's shot saved by the keeper.

Worse was to follow on 43 minutes when the usually reliable Jo Byrne dallied on the ball and was dispossessed on the centre circle, Florence raced up the pitch and made it 3~0 with a clinical finish.

After a half-time ear-bashing from Kim Lunn, Florence scored straight from the restart, with a quality finish which left the Reds defence gob-smacked.

This seemed to spur the Reds on & they finally pulled one back on 50 minutes when Abi Riley netted with a fine finish.

 

As Florence started to fade Willenhall made them pay as Rachel Kinsis scored a scorcher of a goal on 58 minutes with a curling shot from by the corner flag.

Then on 65 minutes the Stunning Sherrylee Boon showed some drive & determination, when she raced the full length of the field beating four players in the process & fired in the perfect cross for Abi Riley to shoot home.

 

With Willenhall thinking the next goal was only round the corner they relaxed and this let in Florence to have one final push & the killer blow came on 78 minutes when Gina followed in to tap home after the initial shot had cannoned off the bar.

Line Up

Lizzie Plant, Di Baker, Stacey Parkes, Tara Martin, Sherrylee Boon, Rachel Kinsis, Jo Byrne, Lauren Jones (c),Leila Hopkins, Tracey Culloty, Abi Riley,
Sub Toni Parkes