FA Women’s Premier League Division One Midlands

The New Saints Ladies 2, Steel City Ladies 0

The New Saints Ladies took all three points in their clash with Steel City Ladies on Sunday.

From the off they demonstrated their dominance with a corner by Maddie Jones which fell to Charlotte Canlett whose shot flew inches over the crossbar.

Shortly after Emily Ridge was released and was through one-on-one with the City goalkeeper, who parried her shot to the in-rushing Lia Lewis, whose strike was saved.

Within minutes pressure was again on Steel City. A free-kick just inside their half by Chloe Wilkinson found Jones on the left-hand side of the box, and her pass to Ridge on the 18-yard box saw her shoot narrowly wide.

The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when another attack on the City goal saw Emma Roden brought down in the box and the referee awarded a penalty.

Canlett calmly stepped up to place the ball into the bottom right of the net to give the Saints a deserved lead.

Five minutes later Jones was released by a Canlett pass, and she kept her head to slot the ball past the on-rushing goalkeeper to double to Saints’ lead.

The second half was much like the first, but despite chances for Wilkinson and Laura Morris, they were unable to add to their tally, while a short spell of possession by Steel City was quickly put to bed by Ceri Evans in the Saints’ goal.

Manager Peter Wilson said: “We were always in control and looked good in possession, which is very pleasing.”

n The Saints travel to Sporting Khalsa on Thursday (7.45pm kick-off) and then to Shrewsbury Sports Village to face Shrewsbury Juniors on Sunday in the SSE Women’s FA Cup.