Girls' football: Blackpool FC and YMCA

Two excellent goals by Blackpool FC Girls U12 couldn't save them from a 3-2 defeat away to Academy Juniors.

At 2-0 down, a great strike from Blackpool captain O’Brien pulled one goal back before the break.

Early in the second, Emma Siddall brilliantly dribbled through the Academy defence before curling the ball inside the right hand post.

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Despite seeing his side conced a third goal, Blackpool coach Mike Healey was still pleased by his team, who had been without substitutes. He described the first half as some of the best football they had played all season.

Blackpool FC Girls eased through to the semi-finals of the county cup with a 13-1 victory over.

This match had been cancelled twice due to bad weather and was rearranged as a home fixture for Blackpool.

Blackpool were soon on the scoresheet when a fine cross from Keisha Masterson was met by Maisie Rogers for a tap-in after two minutes.

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Rogers made a fine run down the wing and set up Masterson for the second goal in four minutes.

A clearance kick by the Walshaw keeper kick was fired straight back into the net by Rogers for the third goal.

Rogers then crossed for Bradie Onions to tap in number four.

Rogers headed in Masterson’s corner for number five and as Blackpool continued to dominate it was eight by half-time, Molly Kelly completing a hat-trick.

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Blackpool made changes at half-time but the goals continued as Isla Makepeace scored from Abi Neal’s ball upfield.

Tricky footwork by Kelly resulted in her fourth and Blackpool’s 10th.

Walshaw got off the mark with an own goal from a corner but Blackpool were soon scoring at the right end again as Makepeace scored twice more to complete a hat-trick.

And it was Onions who completed the scoring after a scramble in the box.

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Blackpool face a tougher tie in the semis against Academy Juniors.

YMCA Under-13s were 4-0 winners over Langho in the North Valley and Burnley Unity League.

YMCA were not at their best but maintained their unbeaten record.

The visitors matched YMCA in the first half and the home side were grateful for some fine saves by goalkeeper Olivia Neal.

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YMCA did have chances late in the first half and both Annabelle Jackson and Ellie McNally saw good efforts hit the bar as the score remained goalless at the interval.

After the restart, YMCA showed much more desire and began to play some fluent football.

They finally broke the deadlock midway into the half, when a corner as cleared as far as Jackson on the edge of the box and she fired the ball into the top corner of the net.

YMCA soon doubled their lead, when good work again from Jackson saw her shot saved by the goalkeeper but the impressive Isabelle Kells was on hand to fire home the rebound to make it 2-0.  

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It was Kells again who made the game safe with 10 minutes to go, when she broke free from the defence and netted with a fine finish.

As YMCA continued to press hard in the closing stages, Saisha Bracken added a fourth goal to complete the victory with a much improved second half display. Megan Lewis and Madison Lucas were both notable throughout.

YMCA Under-16s started well in an end to end encounter with Accrington, who went on to win 3-0.

Faith Wood went close to giving YMCA the lead with a free-kick which was just tipped over the bar by the Accrington keeper as the game remained closely contested.

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That all changed midway through the first half, when Accrington scored three goals in a 10-minute spell to take the game away from YMCA.

In the second half, YMCA enjoyed a lot of possession and created several opportunities, but a combination of near misses and good goalkeeping kept them out.

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