Defeat in semi-final for women’s team

Chesterfield FC Women hosted Mansfield Town this afternoon in the League Plate semi-final, the visitors running out 3-0 winners.

The home side started strong, matching their higher league opponents.

Mansfield took the lead though in the 11th minute through a penalty.

The Spireites continued to press and show attacking intent. Winger Rebecca Lilleyman put in a brilliant cross, but it just evaded the Spireites’ attackers.

Despite it being an even game, the visitors doubled their lead in the 33rd minute from a corner.

Again, the home side pushed on, with Hayley Hulme firing a shot towards goal that was cleared off the line.

The Spireites came out battling in the second half, looking to pull a goal back.

They came under pressure from the opposition though with Rebecca Boston heading a shot away off the line.

In the 68th minute, Mansfield added a third. Rhianne Carroll and Hulme both bravely put their bodies on the line to stop a shot, which the Spireites thought they’d cleared away, but a goal was given.

Carroll came up with some superb saves towards the end of the game. The first to get across her goal to keep the ball from going into the top corner and a couple of fingertip saves from close-range one-on-ones, to keep the scoreline at 3-0.

Boston came close to giving the home side a goal, through a looping shot from around 35 yards, but the ‘keeper did well to get across to save.

Player of the Match: Kush Nazha

Spireites: Carroll, Breeze, Nazha, Francis, Bunyan, O’Brien, Delaney, Lilleyman, Hulme (Strong 68), Boston, Singleton (Skinner 86)