Both Lincoln City Women and Lincoln United Women were in action on Sunday, with each side suffering defeat.
The Imps lost to Boldmere St. Michaels for the second time in as many games, while The Whites were defeated on their travels to Leafield Athletic.
Lincoln City 0-4 Boldmere St. Michaels:
Lincoln City suffered a second defeat to Boldmere just a week after being knocked out of the cup by the same team.
After a few difficult weeks in the league, the Imps started very brightly. Early in the game, Caroline Wood made a dangerous run down the right-flank carrying the ball well. Her cross found Lexi Butterworth in the centre who could not quite get the ball out her feet and was intercepted.
Janelle Straker opened the scoring for the visitors just six minutes in. Janelle Straker wriggled into the penalty area before sliding the ball under the City ‘keeper and into the bottom corner.
Soon it was 2-0 to Boldmere. A heavy pass by Imps shot-stopper Jasmine Ottewell made it difficult for Jacee Fells to take the ball under her spell, allowing the visitors to overturn possession and thrash the ball into the far corner
However, 18 minutes in and there was no sign of City giving up. Butterworth, who looked like the main attacking threat for the home side, attempted a cheeky shot from a tough angle that caught the Boldmere ‘keeper off guard. Her effort brushed the side netting.
After ten minutes of play which was dominated by Lincoln, Butterworth came agonisingly close to getting on the scoresheet. The young striker chased down a stray ball and let fly before being deflected behind for a corner.
Early into the second-half, Straker again was causing problems for the Imps defence. She curled a shot from range which required a brilliant save by Ottewell to put it behind for a corner.
Boldmere soon made it three, on the hour mark. Annie Ackroid delivered a low cross into the box and found substitute Grace Gregory, who was free to tap the ball home.
However, there was drama a few minutes later as the Boldmere ‘keeper received a red card. Jodie Whiteman collided with Butterworth who was through on goal, subsequently seeing red.
There was time for Straker to secure her brace and made it 4-0, after a bit of miscommunication in the City box allowed her to capitalise.
Leafield Athletic 0-4 Lincoln United:
Lincoln United’s weekend ended in defeat to a strong Leafield Athletic side. It took just nine minutes for the hosts to find the opener. A cross from Evangeline Gallop looped over the Lincoln United goalkeeper Amy Hood, finding the back of the net.
After the opener the next real chance came mid-way through the first-half. A corner was delivered on the right side by Abi Cowie, into the path of Leafield striker Hannah Fishwick at the front post. Her effort was flicked goalwards, but a great save by Hood prevented the deficit from being doubled.
An uneventful rest of the first-half followed, as Lincoln went into the break one down.
Leafield soon made it 2-0, as Gallop delivered a ball to substitute Taira Jade, who found the back of the net with just her second touch of the game.
The goals kept on coming for the home side. This time Phoebe Nicholls found Megan Jenkins in the centre with a through ball, who then very cleverly went round the United ‘keeper and slotted the ball into the back of the goal.
Lincoln’s afternoon became more frustrating as Fishwick notched her second of the game in the 80th minute. The Leafield player beat the Whites’ offside trap before lobbing Hood in order to add the finishing touches to a comfortable victory.
In the end, it was a resounding 4-0 victory for Leafield, who recorded their first clean sheet of the season in the process.
The two sides meet in the first Lincoln derby of the season on Thursday, September 26.
Feature Image Credit: Ed Mayes Photography