Lower Hopton AFC Ladies Development 1-8 Knaresborough Town Women

The game kicked off after a minute’s silence in remembrance of Queen Elizabeth II, which was impeccably observed by the players, officials and fans.

Of the two teams, it was Town that settled the quicker, neither club having played for two weeks. Lorna Wilkinson quickly opened the scoring with an emphatic finish on ten minutes.

Bethany Padgett added a second and Town were dominant at this point, pressing forward with attack after attack.

Knaresborough Town Women were then awarded a penalty for a tackle on Eva Jenkins in the box. Captain Grace Adams stepped up to take it. The shot went to the keeper’s right hand side; Ebony Cope got her hand on it but couldn’t keep the powerful strike out of the back of the net. Town were now three goals up.

Eva Jenkins then followed up the third goal with our fourth; a fantastic run and great finish from outside the penalty box.

Almost forty minutes into the game one of the Town players was judged to have handled the ball which gave Lower Hopton Development a free kick outside the box. Chloe Firth hit a wonderful strike to get the home team on the scoresheet.

Lorna Wilkinson restored Town’s four goal lead just before the half-time whistle, meaning we went in at the break 5-1 up.

Despite Lower Hopton making the brighter start to the second 45, Harriet Robson made it 6-1 from a corner after a stoppage for an injury to the home team’s keeper.

Fatimah, who had come on for the second half, quickly made an impact and scored Town’s seventh goal before finishing the scoring in the 85 minute to make it 8-1.

Fatimah was denied a hat-trick when put through in the final minutes, slotting the ball past the advancing keeper with great control; however the referee deemed her to be just offside and the goal was crossed off.

Player of the match was Niamh King and goal of the game was scored by Bethany Padgett.

Next up is Bradford City at Manse Lane, who beat Harrogate Railway Ladies Reserves 11-0 today.

Goal scorers are; Grace Adams: 1, Bethany Padgett: 1, Lorna Wilkinson: 2, Eva Jenkins : 1, Harriet Robson: 1, Fatimah Lapin: 2.