Boldmere St Michaels leapfrog Doncaster Rovers Belles as they ended Peterborough United winning run on Sunday afternoon.
The Posh suffered their first defeat of the New Year at the hands of Boldmere St Michaels Women after three first-half goals condemned Dan Lawlor’s side to a 3-1 loss at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands yesterday.
A brace from Lois Jefferies and a goal from Jess Lundie in the first-half helped Boldmere St Michaels see of an in-form Posh side to make it seven games unbeaten in the FA Women’s National League and now leapfrogged Doncaster Rovers Belles in top spot on goal-difference, with a game in-hand on Andy Butler’s side.
Posh made a positive start in the opening stages as Megan Parrett looked to find Hannah Hipwell racing into the box, but the pass had too much power and allowed the keeper to get out quickly to smother the ball.
Amy Butler produced an excellent low save on 16 minutes to push away Jess Lundie left-footed effort, who was causing all sorts of problems for Posh early on. The hosts found the breakthrough a few minutes later when a corner wasn’t cleared by Posh, and after a little scramble inside the box, Lois Jefferies was on hand to tap home from close-range.
Boldmere St Michaels came inches away from doubling their lead when Lundie struck the post after a clever run on the edge of the box to evade the defenders and make room for herself. However, on 24 minutes, Lundie extended their advantage when she latched onto a ball over the top and rifled her effort into the roof of the net.
On 35 minutes, Cassie Steward saw her effort on the half-volley deflected straight into the hands of the keeper after Evie Driscoll-King cross caused a moment of panic for the hosts. Jefferies was unmarked from a corner, but she could only get minimal contact on her header to glance it wide of the far post. Keeper Chloe Quinn got down well to palm away Parrett shot from the edge of the box before Jess Driscoll took aim from a short free-kick, sending her effort well over the bar.
The hosts made it three on the stroke of half-time when a corner from left-hand side was header home from close-range by Jefferies to grab her second goal of the afternoon. Dan Lawlor made two changes at the break as Hipwell and Natalie Hurst were replaced by Katie Lowder and Kayleigh Aylmer. Keir Perkins raced clear on the right-hand side, had plenty of options to choose from inside the box, but her cross was picked out of the air by keeper Quinn.
Lowder forced Quinn into an excellent save as her long-range effort was tipped over the bar by the hosts keeper. The midfielder decided to try her luck once again on 75 minutes and made no mistake this time. Lowder picked up the ball from 30 yards out and unleashed a thunderous strike into the top corner to cut the deficit for Posh.
Posh had the opportunity to create a nervy final few minutes for the hosts when Steward played Perkins through on-goal, who tried to slot the ball under the keeper but placed it wide of the post.
The hosts took all the three points after seeing off a late revival from Posh and strengthens their position for the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands title. Boldmere St Michaels welcome Wolverhampton Wanderers to Trevor Brown Memorial Ground next Sunday in the Birmingham FA County Cup.
Boldmere St Michaels: Quinn, Sutton, Liddiard, Shorell, Keeling, Thompson-Mouldine, Weston, Dickinson, Jefferies, Wilson and Lundie.
Subs: Bickley, Da’Casto, Jarvis and Kirk
Posh: Butler, Connor, Driscoll-King, Hurst, Copson, Parrett, Driscoll, Horner, Hipwell, Steward and Perkins.
Subs: Marson, Makanjuola, Lowder and Aylmer.
