Halifax FC Women found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-0 score line after their first away fixture in the FA Women’s National League this season, coming up against a very strong Burnley team in an evening kick off under the lights at The County Ground.

It was The Eagles who started brightest, with the first attack of the game coming from Drew Greene, whose twisting, turning run beat several Burnley defenders before the shot was deflected behind with 2 minutes played.

After a fairly evenly matched first 10 minutes, a couple of good Burnley chances then came in quick succession; first a shot that fizzed across the face of goal deflected out of danger by captain Shauna Legge, then Halifax ‘keeper Becky Flaherty was called into action to make the first of many excellent saves of the evening; this one a diving save to her right to deny the Clarets.

With quarter of an hour gone, Halifax were on the front foot again with two promising attacking moves. The first was created by Georgia Stevens who controlled the ball neatly in midfield and tried to find Lucy Sowerby, but the pass was just behind the striker. Just two minutes later it was Monique Watson with a dangerous solo run from midfield, but the resulting shot was safely gathered by the Burnley keeper. Drew Greene also found space to drive forward again, but the Burnley defence stood firm.

As the first half progressed however, it was the Clarets who found a foothold in the game. The Halifax defence held strong under increasing pressure until the 37th minute, when Burnley’s Aimee Kelly found time to control the ball just outside the area before blasting a shot into the Halifax net to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Half-time: Burnley FC Women 1 – 0 Halifax FC Women