Sunday January 22nd, 2012
Lancashire Women's Challenge Cup
Padiham 0-5 Rovers Ladies
Rovers Ladies booked their place in the final of the Lancashire Women's Challenge Cup courtesy of a comfortable 5-0 win away to Padiham.
After a sluggish start, Scott Rogers' side opened the scoring on nine minutes when a low corner was flicked on by Lizzie Ince and smashed home by Danielle Cox.
The second goal arrived 10 minutes later when Hannah Forster lofted the ball into the top corner.
Padiham had a chance to pull one back, but blazed over, before Rovers added a third when Gail Pennington was released down the right and her cross was turned in by Danielle Sheen.
Rovers were dictating the play and extended their lead five minutes before the break with the goal of the game. Breaking at pace, playing one and two-touch passing, Rovers moved the ball forward to Kim Turner, who back-heeled it into the path of Hannah Forster for her to grab her second.
It was a terrific team goal by Rovers, who had completely dominated the first half and deserved their 4-0 lead.
Rovers reshuffled their defence at half-time, bringing on Charlotte Heyes for Cox, but the switch didn't disrupt their dominance - Lagan Makin firing just wide less than a minute in.
Padiham dropped every player behind the ball as they looked to contain Rovers, who were content to remain patient and look for openings.
Eventually they began to make inroads, with Sheen twice going through, firing just wide and hitting the bar.
The visitors introduced Nichol Forster on the hour mark and within five minutes she had grabbed Rovers' fifth. Heyes started the attack down the left, before finding Forster, who coolly finished past the Padiham keeper on the half-turn.
The goalkeeper was then kept busy by Sheen, who looked to have found the bottom corner, but was denied by a great save.
Rogers said: "We are absolutely delighted to be in the final. I felt that we controlled the pace of the game throughout.
"It's never easy coming to play a lower league team, buy you can certainly see that Padiham are an up-and-coming club.
"All credit to them for making it a difficult game for us, but I just felt that we had too much for them all over the pitch. Some of the football we played was brilliant and the fourth goal was good enough to win any match.
"I think the girls showed how important this competition is to us. We are on a good run of form and if we keep playing like this, I'm sure that will continue."
Rovers will meet Blackpool Wren Rovers in the final at the LFA Headquarters in Leyland on Wednesday April 4th as they look to retain their county crown.
ROVERS: Parker, Pennington, Twohig, Cox (Heyes 46), Oates, Ince, H. Forster (Bennett 62), Turner, Makin, Sheen, Anderton (N. Forster 60).
Subs not used: Jackson, Savage.
