Thursday December 13, 2007

National Division, Shawbridge

Rovers 2-1 Leeds United

ROVERS Ladies returned to winning ways to end the calendar season third in the table.

England veteran Karen Burke opened the scoring against her former club on the quarter-hour mark and the league's leading scorer Katie Anderton doubled Rovers' advantage shortly before the break.

Leeds hit back when winger Sue Smith converted a 72nd-minute penalty, but despite mounting some late pressure the visitors failed to force an equaliser.

Manager Adam Lakeland said: "It is a fantastic result. It's one we really needed after the run of bad form we've been going through, so it's great to get a victory and put it all behind us.

"Leeds are an excellent side and to get three points off them is a great coup for the team. The players' performance was fantastic from start to finish. It was the last league game of the year and we wanted to finish on a high.

"If, at the beginning of the season, someone was to say come Christmas we would be third in the league and only five points off top spot, we would never have believed them.

"We have performed so well and we have many big games to look forward to in the New Year - including the FA Cup and Lancashire Cup competitions, so there's plenty to play for."

ROVERS: Payne, Carroll, Twohig, Brewer, Harding, Burke, Shepherd, Preston, Campbell, Penny, Anderton.

Subs not used: Jackson, Williams, Forster, Fleck, Hanson.

·Meanwhile, Rovers will face Brighton & Hove Albion in the fourth round of the FA Women's Cup on Sunday January 6th, after the south coast side defeated Welwyn Garden City 2-1 in the last round.