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Sheffield FC's Women's side continued their 100% start to their East Midlands Premier League campaign, beating a very good Mansfield Town side 2-1 at The Home of Football, despite being reduced to 10 players for the final 20 minutes.

It was a tight opening once again for the Clubettes, as they found it difficult to get the vital breakthrough against a solid defence, with the first real chance coming from an Eden Hinchliffe free-kick that was terrifically tipped over by Mansfield's keeper Amy Price just before the half hour mark.

From the resultant corner though, Sheffield took the lead, with Tash Wood's corner evading everyone in the middle and trickling over the line.

Just before the break the hosts had a lucky escape, as Pippa Cassidy headed off the line, after what looked like a certain equaliser from Chloe Foster. Three minutes after the restart Club doubled the lead, a ball over the top from Hinchliffe found Sadie Smith, who was hauled down inside the area by Price - Smith stepping up to convert the spot kick, despite a decent effort from the goalie.

Sheffield seemed to ease off somewhat and on 68 minutes they were punished for a push by Hinchliffe, after she had cleared with a header, leaving former Clubbie Amy Pashley with the job of converting the penalty.

The home side were immediately reduced to ten players, as keeper Leah Kellogg had too much to say to referee Glyn Owen, and was rewarded with a pair of yellow cards and an early trek to the dressing rooms.

Into the breach stepped vice-captain Brooke Smith, and she did more than was hoped, denying a last gasp equaliser from Pashley - pulling off a wonderful save from a dangerous free-kick - and also being on hand to stop a point-blank effort in injury time.

The win leaves Sheffield in third place, one of three teams with a 100% record, with a visit to Rotherham United on Wednesday night giving them a chance to continue the great start to the season.

Sheffield FC: 1 Leah Kellogg, 2 Pip Cassidy, 3 Eden Hinchliffe, 4 Nicole Kemp (c), 6 Tilly Hallas-Potts, 9 Amy Nelson, 10 Sadie Smith, 11 Lucy Cook, 14 Caitlyn Douglas, 16 Natasha Wood, 17 Brooke Smith. 

Subs: 7 Sami Brooks, 8 Leah Harrison, 16 Moriah McIntosh, 19 Nicole Cooper, 21 Jacey Haynes.

Mansfield Town: 13 Amy Price, 2 Maia Taylor, 3 Martha Roper, 6 Georgina Clements (c), 11 Amy Pashley, 12 Abbie Greaves, 14 Ava Williamson, 15 Chloe Foster, 16 Libby Bartlett, 18 Olivia Standeven, 22 Shannon Purdy. 

Subs: 5 Monica Bowley, 8 Gabriella Foulkes, 9 Olivia Wheatcroft, 19 Millie Edwards, 20 Erin James.

Attendance: 79

Referee: Glyn Owen