Kenyon hat-trick steals win

Oughtibridge completed their run of 4 games in 10 days with a thrilling 5-2 win at home to midtable Rise Park.

Oughtibridge WM Ladies 5-2 Rise Park

Photo: Ian Revitt

With a decimated squad manager Andy Towns turned to youngster Brooke Swann and the evergreen duo of Kelly Biney and Bridie Pitsch to bolster the ranks and they didn’t disappoint.

Such was the call for arms there was even a start for Codi Melia, trying a return less than 8 weeks after her leg fracture.

An even opening period became about taking chances as they fell at both ends before Melia threaded a ball to Millie Kenyon to round the keeper and slot home for a 1-0 lead.

An enormous clearance from Coran Wright then found Kenyon in the clear to calmly lob the keeper for 2-0. Unfortunately for Melia her return was cut short by her injury, being replaced by Swann but it only took the teenager 10 minutes to score on her debut as her first effort was cleared off the line until she rammed the rebound home to give the hosts a 3-0 half time advantage.

Knowing a big win would help overcome a 15 goal difference on top side Leicester the home team set about Rise Park in the 2nd half but this became immaterial as it was back to 3-2 on the hour after 2 quick goals and by then it was very much game on.

The nerves were settled on 72 minutes as Kenyon fed Swann, whose volley was brilliantly saved by the keeper only for Kenyon to slot home the rebound for her second hat-trick in 3 games.

Bex Shaw was upended in the last minute and Kathryn Mudge rammed home the penalty to put some gloss on the outcome.

Oughtibridge won’t know they extent of the victory they will require at Leicester on Sunday 12 May until the outcome of the top side’s trip to Kettering in mid week, a draw or defeat would mean any kind of win would do but if not it will require an unlikely victory by 6 or 7 clear goals.

Promotion to the Women’s National League might just be beyond them this time but its been another cracking season for a club that continues to defy the odds at this level.