Express & Star

Rachel Letford proves to be double trouble for Kiddermister

Gornal maintained their perfect start to the West Midlands Regional Women’s League Division 1 South season with a fourth successive victory.

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Kidderminster were the latest side to be swept aside as the teams squared up for the first time having gained promotion from their respective county leagues last term.

Sarah Lokjo fired wide and saw a free-kick cleared off the line as Gornal pressed for a breakthrough.

But it was the hosts who struck first when striker Anne Johnson lobbed the ball over keeper Chloe Edwards.

Kidderminster missed a couple of chances to increase their lead and paid the price when Rachel Letford swivelled and volleyed past goalkeeper Hannah Tromans and just under the bar to draw Gornal level.

Gornal started to take control and a through ball from centre-half Stephanie Juszczyszyn found Letford, who turned her marker and crossed for Drew Harris to convert.

And it was game over when Letford fired home after Levi Cheadle’s shot had been blocked.

Wolves Women suffered their fifth league defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest Ladies in a well-contested game at Hednesford Town’s Keys Park.

Wolves may consider themselves unlucky not to have taken something from the game, in what was a tight and sometimes fiery encounter.

The home side started the game on the back foot, and a number of important saves from Issy Foster in the Wolves’ goal, first from a Nikki Emery strike and then from an Amy Dicken shot, kept the scores level.

Despite the away side’s pressure, Wolves managed to create a chance for themselves, but Leanne Robinson fired over.

However, it was the away side who took the lead. Emery‘s low driven ball was tapped home by Trina Greaves.

Wolves went close to equalising twice just before the half-time break. Courtney Jones’ long-range curling effort was well saved by the Forest keeper and Jen Anslow found herself with a chance inside the box but she was unable to get her shot on target.

The hosts were buoyed by the away side being reduced to 10 players, Dicken receiving a red card after an off-the-ball incident.

Although it was Wolves with the extra player advantage, they were unable to create any clear goalscoring chances.

Five-star striker Faye Butler led the way as Stafford Town Under-14 girls beat Burntwood Phoenix 9-0 in the Staffs Girls League.

Lottie Delauny started the rout, with Saskia Conaghan, Kimmie Skinner and Butler making it four in the opening half.

Butler hit a sweet volley shortly after the break from a Skinner cross before completing her hat-trick by rounding the keeper.

Butler added two more before Conaghan completed the scoring.