Lowestoft Railway 4, Magpies Ladies IV 1AFTER two weeks off from league action, Magpies, top of the league, travelled to play Lowestoft, second place, for an early morning push-back.

Lowestoft Railway 4, Magpies Ladies IV 1

AFTER two weeks off from league action, Magpies, top of the league, travelled to play Lowestoft, second place, for an early morning push-back.

It was a cold, but bright day, and the first few minutes of the match saw the possession keep changing with both teams trying to assert their authority.

As things settled down it was Lowestoft who enjoyed the more attacking play making ground into the Magpies defensive third and winning several short corners, but some good Magpies defending stopped the home side taking the lead.

Then against the run of play, a fantastic move from Magpies gave them the advantage; Becky Ford started the move with a good pass from a sideline ball, finding Kay Dennis who made a brilliant pass to Rhian Earrye in the middle whose shot was half-saved by the keeper and the rebound fell to Kay Dennis by the post to tap in. Lowestoft, however, came out fighting and equalised in minute, a cracking strike straight from a short corner and then took the lead with a clever reverse stick shot into the corner.

Magpies came out for the second half determined to get themselves back into the game but the home side extended their advantage and soon went 3-1 up.

Magpies kept their heads up and continued to attack and when a good Laura Schultheiss cross from the right wing found Kay Dennis in the D, whose further pass into the danger area met a Lowestoft stick on its way into the back of the net, the away side should have been awarded the goal.

However, the umpire didn't see Dennis's touch and the goal was disallowed. Magpies continued to press forward, but Lowestoft on the counter-attack were too good and went 4-1 up near to the end of the match.

A fair end result for Magpies, who must remain positive for next week's match, and take heart as it was a loss against one of the strongest teams in the league.