Willenhall 7 Darlaston 2

By Simon Haynes

The Rampant Reds made light work of Darlaston as they extended their unbeaten run to fifteen games, with a 7~2 pasting of their local rivals.

Willenhall handed home debuts to Becky Yeates and Helen Crozier and also Lindsay Clews & Di Baker returned to the squad.

Willenhall virtually had the game sown up with a devastating spell of Football in side the opening 10 minutes, but at a cost as they lost the influential Becky Yeates in that period with a groin injury.

Stacey Parkes opened the scoring for Willenhall after 2 minutes when she cut in from the left hand side and curled in a superb left foot shot past a very shaky keeper.

Jo Byrne the extended the leads on 5 minutes when her left wing cross was dropped into the net by the visiting keeper who endured a spell of the jitters in the opening stages.

Di Baker replaced the injured Yeates on 8 minutes & the Reds had to reshuffle at the back with the versatile Lindsay Clews moving to the centre of defence.

Abby Riley increased the Reds lead even further on 9 minutes tucking away an impressive Stacey Parkes right wing cross.

Darlaston hit straight back as the Willenhall defence seemed to switch off when the no 11 slid the ball home after a swift counter-attack.

As Willenhall regain their composure Tina Hand sent in a right wing cross on 20 minutes but it just evaded the on-rushing Reds front line, then on 29 minutes Lezzy Plant tested the keeper with a spectacular 40yard effort. 

Tina Hand made the game safe on the half hour when she netted from close range to make it 4~1 and Abby Riley should have scored on 32 minutes when she screwed the ball wide from an acute angle.

Just before the break Darlaston seized on a rare defensive error but Toni Parkes in the reds goal pulled off a fantastic save. Abby Riley made a mazy run on 35 minutes only to see her shot well saved by the visiting keeper.

Abby Riley set up Rachael Kinsis on 40 minutes but the outs of sorts midfielders saw her shot easily saved.

Willenhall had the perfect chance to increase their advantage even further in the opening minute of the second half when a penalty was awarded by referee Andy Reynolds, after a rash challenge by a visiting defender.

Tina Hand stepped up to take the penalty, only to see it saved by the visiting keeper whom redeemed herself after the earlier errors.

On 65 minutes Abby Riley finally got her second goal of the game when she beat the offside trap & slid the ball home to make it 5~1.

Tracey Culloty came on for the ineffective Rachael Kinsis on 67 minutes & nearly marked her home debut with a goal, only to see her shot saved by the keeper after being setup by Abby Riley.

The home sides strike partnership continued the cause the visitor’s problem and Tina Hand was yet again denied by the visiting keeper and she was denied soon after when her shot rebounded off the post.

Darlaston pulled a goal back on 75 minutes with a low shot that nestled in the corner of the net, no more than a mere consolation goal.

Willenhall again pressed forward and tried to increase their lead but yet again Tina Hand was yet again denied by the keeper after more good work by the highly impressive Abby Riley.

Emma Wilkes came on after 83 minutes to replace the hard working Stacey Parkes.

Willenhall continued to lay siege on the visitor’s goal and Tina Hand finally managed to get her second goal of the game with a neat finish.

Abby Riley then completed her hat-trick on 86 minutes with a fine effort, capping an excellent performance by the highly rated striker.

Willenhall Team

Tonis Parkes, Lizzie Plant, Lindsay Clews, Helen Crozier, Becky Yeates, Stacey Parkes, Lauren Jones (c), Jo Byrne,

Rachael Knisis, Tina Hand, Abby Riley

Subs: Di Baker, Tracey Culloty Emma Wilkes, Faye Eccleston

Subs Used :-Baker- Yeates  8 min

                   Culloty- Knisis 67 min

                   Wilkes-S. Parkes 83 min

Star Red : Abby Riley

Next home game October 2nd v Florence 2pm