Sophie Coates’ stretched her goalscoring tally to 25 with another four-goal haul, with Alicia Barnett and Eleanor Ashton also netting in the big away victory.
Dale came out ready for an intense game however they were able to find freedom down both flanks early on. Within the first 30 seconds, Dale created a wonderful opportunity that was squandered by Ashton, dragging her shot just wide of the post.
It was only a matter of time till Dale went in front and of course it was top goal scorer Coates on target to put Dale 1-0 up inside two minutes. A brilliant run from Dolcie O’Connor on the right wing, cutting the ball back into the 18-yard box and without failure, Coates slotted the ball into the net.
MSB Woolton started to gain possession as the game developed and constructed an opportunity to equalise. A free-kick that could have challenged Nash was confidently saved.
Dale quickly countered MSB and made it two. A brilliant cross from Ashton was met by Coates to make it a brace, via a deflection.
The game was in Dale’s favour but, Woolton did start to create some decent half chances, Dale’s defensive line stayed tight and kept it the scoreline at 2-0 after half an hour of the game.
38 minutes passed, two became three after an exceptional goal scored by Barnett. Dale’s vice-captain received the ball on the half turn, catching MSB’s keeper off guard with shot from 25 yards out. The ball flew into the top left corner left the keeper stranded for her second of the campaign.
O’Connor before the break, found herself in abundance of space, and had an opportunity to get her first goal of the game but, her effort flew the wrong side of the post.
MSB came out for the second half much more positively as they created a few chances but, substitute ‘keeper Leah Jackson made a few solid saves to protect the clean sheet.
55 minutes played and Sophie Coates made it another hat trick for her incredible season with an unerring finish.
Dale were knocking on the door constantly since Coates got her hat trick, and her fourth goal of the game came ten minutes after she bagged her third. A superb move, from Dale with a well worked passing move and unsurprisingly, finished by the flying forward.
After Coates had made it five, the game was won, and Dale managed the game well by keeping the ball whilst creating some opportunities to find that sixth goal.
The game had one more goal in it and Dale’s Ashton slotted home a sixth goal for Dale for another strike on her return.
Manager Lee Atkinson spoke after the win lifted his side to within three points of the summit.
“It was a fantastic performance, I felt like our in and out of possession game today was absolutely quality, we were so dangerous today and I’m really happy.”
The gaffer also spoke on Coates’s incredible return this campaign.
“She’s unstoppable at the moment and she is still learning the position, and there is still a lot more to come from her.
“She is playing with a big smile on her face, and you can she is really enjoying it, her stats back that up, so it’s really pleasing.”
Atkinson spoke about how the effort levels of the girls didn’t drop off throughout the game and how impactful that Dale work as a team.
“A big thing for me is that we attack and defend as a team and that’s really important to me”
Next up for Dale will be Morecambe in the Alliance Print & Design Cup next Sunday, and Lee told his thoughts on the upcoming fixture.
“I’m looking forward to it and we know Morecambe are a well-established side and will be a very difficult game.
“They’ve got some very dangerous players, we need to focus on ourselves and our game as we know we can beat them”.
Dale XI | Nash, Strudwick (c), E. Jones, Malpus, Whyte, Smith, O’Connor, Coates, Barnett, King, Ashton.
Subs | Jackson, Duckworth, O. Jones, Burke, Southworth.
