Georgia a chip off the old block with five-goal haul

Georgia Payton hit all five goals as Burnley Ladies stayed in touch with the North West Women's Regional League Premier Division leaders with victory over Sir Tom Finney LFC at Hyndburn Leisure Centre.

Payton, daughter of Clarets legend Andy, hit four goals in the first half alone.

Sir Tom Finney competed well in the early stages and came close to scoring when a striker received the ball on the 18-yard line, before shooting just wide.

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Recent Clarets signing Chloe Fell struck from distance, but her shot was high over the bar.

The visitors responded soon after with a similar strike, and there was little to separate the teams.

But Burnley went ahead when Vikki Eastwood challenged the keeper from Charlotte Banner’s ball and played across the six-yard box, where Payton was on hand to fire into the net, out of reach of a recovering defender.

A couple of minutes later a Lynette Craig corner was collected by Payton at the far post and again she despatched coolly for her second goal.

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The visitors regrouped and tried to recover the deficit. but Clarets player of the match Jo Holt marshalled the defence efforts and prevented any threats becoming serious.

The Clarets were now on top and pressing hard to increase the scoring, with Justine Wallace, Fell and Payton all shooting wide.

Payton was on target again after Fell headed down to Wallace, who picked out Leah Embley on the wing.

She carried the ball and passed to Payton in the area for her to claim her hat-trick.

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As the Clarets continued to apply pressure, Wallace set Payton on a run towards goal and she hit a rising drive that flew narrowly over.

Payton came close again with a one on one with the keeper, but shot just wide.

In the final seconds of the half, she received a through pass from Embley and closed on the keeper and shot out of her reach to make it 4-0.

The Clarets pushed on in the second period but were met with a concerted defensive effort.

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Lizzy Hamer had a one on one with the keeper, who forced the ball wide before a neat flick over the defensive line by Fell, and a burst of pace by Payton, gave her five yards on the defence, and she flicked the ball past the keeper as they met on the edge of the area, providing her with an open goal to make it 5-0.

On Sunday, the Lady Clarets, who lie fourth in the table with 10 games remaining, are due to face Sir Tom Finney for the away encounter at UCLAN Sports Arena.