Lye Town 3, Leafield Athletic 2

A HAT-trick from top scorer Clare Williamson was enough to earn three points for Lye Town Ladies in a nervy tie against Leafield Athletic.

The three points moves the Lyeonesses up to third place in the table, a point behind second-placed Crusaders but with two games in hand.

Lye went in at the break with a 2-0 lead, which was far from comfortable against Leafield’s build-up play and pace up front.

The side were indebted to keeper Kelly Walker, who produced an outstanding save to keep Leafield at bay, and may have made the half-time score more comfortable had Adele Hickman’s 25-yard drive come back off the bar.

Lye started the second half positively and created further chances for Robyn Hingley and Hannah Boxley, but instead Leafield reduced the arrears on the hour mark.

With Leafield pushing for an equaliser, Lye broke and restored the two goal cushion, but Leafield were not finished and scored again with ten minutes to go to set up a nervy finish.

Lye however managed the game well to ensure they maintained their four game unbeaten run, and second win on the bounce.

Likely league champions Burton Albion’s win against Leamington keeps them eight points ahead of Lye with four games to play, but a second placed finish for the Lyeonesses remains a realistic target and evidence of good progress this season.