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It was a resounding win for Burnley in a Lancashire derby against Blackburn Rovers that saw them through to the knockout stages of the FA Women’s National League Cup.
Third-tier Burnley hammered Rovers 13-0, with a Charlie Chadwick hat-trick, braces from Aimee Kelly and Danielle Maxwell, and contributions from Abbey-Leigh Stringer, Brooke Cairns, Millie Chandarana, Louise McDaniel, Thea Paul and Heidi Logan.
The heavy defeat underlined a swift reversal in fortunes for the two near neighbours.
Blackburn Rovers were in the Women’s Championship last season (now WSL2) but withdrew from the league as the club’s owners were not prepared to meet the requirements for facilities, staffing and player welfare. They are now playing in the fourth tier, meaning local rivals Burnley are now above them.
And to underline their current differences even further, Burnley are now a full-time professional outfit, having moved from their previous hybrid model over the summer.
Indeed, they were reported to have their eyes on potentially replacing Rovers in the second tier, although in the end relegated Sheffield United were given a reprieve.
Chandarana’s goal was her first for the club, and she also laid on four assists.
She told the club website after the match that she hoped Burnley could go much further in the competition, saying: “I think winning things is what we want to do. Let’s hope we can push on and try and do that.”
Lou Roberts: Burnley took full opportunity today
Interim manager Lou Roberts – in charge of the team since the late Matt Beard’s departure from the role last month – was unsurprisingly pleased with the performance.
“We talk a little bit around if we can play within our system and our structure and be disciplined and hold ourselves accountable, we then have the freedom and fluidity to go and be creative within it, and they took full opportunity today,” she said.
“I thought we were really disciplined when we needed to be and that’s what at times unlocked Blackburn and gave us the opportunity in front of goal and in the final third.”
The result means that the Clarets finish on top of their group, winning all three of their matches without conceding a goal; they also beat Chorley 2-0, and Huddersfield Town 6-0.
They progress to the knockout stage of the competition and will learn their opponents in the last 32 on Monday evening, when the draw takes place on an Instagram live stream.
