Mansfield Town Ladies remain in second position after they were involved in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Long Eaton United on Sunday.
After last week’s defeat to the league leaders Bedworth United, the Stagettes were hoping to get points on the board away at local rivals Long Eaton.
The game started badly for the girls with ex-Derby County player Precious Hamilton opening the scoring for the home side with only seven minutes gone.
It took the Stagettes just three minutes to get back on terms, with Jess Machin playing a neat one-two with Laura Watton before impressively dribbling past five Long Eaton players and slotting the ball into the bottom right corner.
It was the away team who looked stronger in the first half and it paid off as Jemma Douglas was able to give them the half-time lead. The goal came after Cairo Hopewell attempted to punch clear a Mansfield corner, and the ball ricocheted back into the box where Douglas was able to out-jump Hamilton to head the Stagettes in front.
The second half started with both sides carving out good chances. Jemma Douglas saw her header saved after a well worked free-kick whilst the home team saw Jo Campbell fire over when free in the centre of the area.
Eventually it was the home team who made the most of their chances, grabbing an equaliser in the 61st minute. Hamilton played a good through ball to Cara Newton, who turned inside her defender and placed it in the corner.
Mansfield didn’t let their heads drop though as they were back in front soon after, with Marie Wayne firing one home from 30 yards out.
The Stagettes couldn’t hold out for all three points as Long Eaton were awarded a penalty in the dying embers of the game. Jo Campbell seemed to go down under little pressure from Becky Davis and Hamilton stepped up to get her second of the contest.
After the match, frustrated Ladies’ manager Lewis Saxby said: “This is two weeks in a row where we were the much better side but have not come away with the three points. We just simply aren’t taking our chances in games and that needs to change.”
He added: “We’ve had a hard run of games against top teams but if we had taken our chances in these games, we would have won.”
Full-time: Long Eaton 3-3 Stagettes
The Stagettes are next in action this Sunday, at home to Rise Park Ladies (2pm).
Stagettes: Emily Gascoyne, Becky Davis, Jemma Douglas, Hannah Bodle, Marie Wayne, Nicki Flood, Shelly Adams, Jessica Machin (Androulla Kokkinou), Monica Bowley (Rachael Mullen), Emma Allen, Laura Watton.
Substitutes not used: Charlotte Appleby, Rebecca Lakhani, Paige Gadsby.
Long Eaton: Cairo Hopewell (c), Sarah Harrison, Lucie Johnstone, Chloe Dixon, Aime Bramman, Laura Robinson, Shell Kilmartin, Precious Hamilton, Cara Newton, Leah Kellogg, Jo Campbell.
Substitutes not used: Shannon Ryan, Kim Evans, Amy White, Alena Moulton.
