Farsley Celtic Women faced their much rescheduled first league clash with Hepworth United Ladies on Sunday knowing that they must win every game left this season to get promoted to the West Riding County Premier Division.
In such hilly countryside it was unlikely to be a flat pitch and it duly turned out that way on a cold but sunny spring afternoon. A strong side was named with plenty of pace in the attack to test the Hepworth defence on the slope.
From the first minute Farsley were clearly ready to go led by the intense pressing of Amyleigh Pearce and Evie Smith up front and with 21 minutes played it was Shirley Murphy who opened the scoring after a brilliant chance that she rolled past the Hepworth goalkeeper.
Less than ten minutes later Murphy had doubled her tally for the game and taken herself clear as the league’s top goalscorer with 28 to her name so far!
Just before half time it was Pearce who grabbed the third goal and it was no less than her performance deserved as she caused no end of problems for the Hepworth defence who were constantly having to reshuffle to track her on the field.
3-0 up at half time it was comfortable so far for Farsley playing up the hill and it left Hepworth with a lot to do to try and make it a contest.
The second half was definitely a tighter affair with both sides making changes that slowed the rhythm of the game down but it did not cause too much of an issue for Farsley who were able to grab a fourth goal through midfielder Vicky Robinson without getting up to top speed in the second period.
4-0 it finished and it was no less than was deserved for Farsley Celtic. Player of the Match was Amyleigh Pearce whose pace made her unplayable for the Hepworth defence and she topped it off with a well earned goal.
Next up for Farsley Celtic Women is the trip to Sherburn White Rose for the League Cup quarter final on the 7th of April before back to back home games to end the league campaign against Hepworth United and Ackworth Girls.