Ladies 3s lose ground in promotion race

Halifax lost ground in the promotion race with a disappointing draw away to Cleckheaton. Halifax dominated the game from start to finish but repeatedly failed to find the back of the net. Robyn Fawkes was a thorn in the Cleckheaton side, particularly in the first half, using pace and skill to go past defenders with ease. The Cleckheaton keeper was their stand out player and she repeatedly saved shots on target from Fawkes, forward Gracie Oddy and midfielders Nicola Boulton and Cara James.

Midway through the first half the keeper was beaten when a penalty flick was awarded as a result of a defenders foot stopping the ball going in the net from a Claire Hoey shot. Alison McManus stepped up from the back to demonstrate the composer needed by the attacking players, sending a powerful flick past the keeper into the top left corner of the goal for Halifax to take a lead that their dominance deserved.

Within two minutes Halifax were back level. Cleckheaton attacked down the right, and pulled the ball back for the left forward to despatch into the goal. Keeper Kiera Hayman's only touch of the ball was to retrieve it out of the net for the restart.

Halifax reasserted themselves but despite the amount of possession they enjoyed their passing game and finishing was not at its best. The pattern of the rest of the game remained much the same - Halifax pushing but not able to make the most of their superiority and Cleckheaton hoping to capitalise on their occasional forays into the Halifax half.