Claret Women progress into Round Three with narrow win in Greater Manchester

Burnley FC Women put their name into the hat for the Third Round draw of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup with a 1-0 victory away against Cheadle Town Stingers Women.

Millie Ravening proved the matchwinner in a tight contest at Park Road Stadium with a goal midway through the second half, her third in the competition this season having netted a brace in the previous round against Tranmere Rovers Women.

Jonathan Morgan made three changes to his side from last week’s 4-2 victory at AFC Fylde Women, which came in the Lancashire FA Women’s Senior Cup, as Lauren Bracewell & Ella Kinzett dropped to the bench while Ellie May wasn’t involved in the matchday squad.

Lucy Farrell, Olivia Greenhalgh & Sarah Greenhalgh were the three to come in from the off in their places, and Spaniard Amaya Coleman-Evans was named on the bench as she made her own return from injury.

First Half

In a frantic start to the tie, Leah Embley saw a shot deflected behind while Rachael Dunlop passed up a gilt-edged chance at the other end as she sent a strike over the bar having raced into the area in space.

Dunlop was proving an issue for the Claret Women’s backline, and soon after she latched onto a ball down the channel to cut inside and take aim from range, with the effort dropping narrowly wide.

Burnley centre back Lucy Walsh then saw a poke at goal held onto by Town goalkeeper Fran Singleton, and Ravening also beat two defenders to cross for Evie Priestley, but Singleton kept her flick from point-blank range out with a smart reaction stop.

Growing into the game, Ravening had two further strikes from distance held by Singleton before Priestley hit the post with a header and fired the rebound over in the last action of the opening 45 minutes.

Second Half

At the restart, the midfielder was once more denied by Singleton in similar fashion while the shot stopper clung onto a long-range strike from Walsh who had surged forward to take aim.

Sarah Greenhalgh and Priestley also came close to opening the scoring, as well as Ravening’s low-drilled cross passing everyone by.

But eventually, on 69 minutes, the opener – and winner – came via Ravening. She chased down a through ball which had looked to have been dealt with by the Cheadle backline, and poked home past the onrushing Singleton.

Settling the contest down, Burnley dominated possession and saw Olivia Greenhalgh go close to a second with another long-range effort. Embley was also denied by Singleton in the last action of note, but after five additional minutes, the referee’s full-time whistle signalled the Claret Women’s progression in the cup.

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