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Match Report

12th April 2015

Greater Manchester Women's Football League Division 1

Abraham Moss High School, Crescent road, Crumpsall, Manchester, M8 5UF


FC United of Manchester Women

4 - 2

Chorltonians LFC

 
Attendance: 67

FC United of Manchester Women 4

Chorltonians LFC 2

Attendance: 67



Match Report
FC United’s women’s team are champions at the third time of asking after Lee Sutton’s side did themselves and the Club proud, brightening up a dreadful afternoon with a dazzling second half display in Crumpsall to win 4-2 against south Manchester rivals, Chorltonians LFC.

The victory over second placed Chorltonians gives the Reds an unassailable lead at the top of Greater Manchester Women’s Football League, Division 1 with one game left, sparking jubilant, emotional celebrations at the end of a game of two contrasting halves.

Chorltonians played the conditions perfectly in a wind-assisted first half and United found themselves two goals down in just over half an hour. Shellby Wolstencroft gave United a vital foothold in the game with a superb strike as the Reds finished the half strongly in the face of a strengthening gale.

Ironically the wind dropped at the start of the second half as the rain intensified but United, needing just a point to claim the title, weren’t to be denied and goals from Chelsea Patient, Kirsty Chambers and Adora Yau without reply saw the Reds over the line.

United started the game in front of a record home crowd for the season, as both sides took a while to come to terms with the extreme weather conditions. The visitors, despite an early set back losing the dangerous Jordana Shaw to injury on eight minutes, settled the better with United struggling to clear their lines on numerous occasions due to the incessant headwind. On the quarter hour, a Chorltonians throw level with the United penalty area fell kindly to Shaw’s replacement, Shauna Edmondson, who thundered a dipping 20-yard half-volley over the defence and keeper to be denied by the crossbar as the rebound blew harmlessly behind for a goal kick.

In a rare counter thrust, Chambers cut in from the right, slotting a defence-splitting through ball into the path of Wolstencroft whose shot was too close to Natalie Callaghan in the visitors’ goal as the custodian held on comfortably. As United looked to assert themselves on proceedings, Beth Hayes released Feiruz Abdullahi down the left and the striker outpaced the covering defenders firing across Callaghan but agonisingly seeing her strike deflect away off the far post.

As the half passed its midpoint, Chorltonians earned a corner and Sarah Leigh-Bergin swept her delivery dangerously into the area with the flight deceiving Chloe Williams at her near post and in the swirling conditions the United keeper could not prevent the ball from crossing the line to give the visitors a 1-0 lead on 25 minutes. Following the goal and sensing United were struggling in the conditions, Chorltonians grew in stature and things went from bad to worse for the home side on 35 minutes. Jamila Hodges tricked her way through United’s central defence, turned and fired unerringly past the despairing dive of Williams from the edge of the area to double the visitors’ lead.

In response to going two behind, United made two decisive changes in personnel and responded almost immediately. Abdullahi fashioned a ball into the feet of Wolstencroft in the area and the striker controlled instantly and swept a shot high into the net off the underside of Callaghan’s bar on 40 minutes giving the Reds a vital foothold in the game. Amy Battel linked well with the introduced Charlie Evans down the right as United finished the half a goal down but on the front foot.

Chorltonians got the second half underway but United carried the game to them in search of the all important equaliser. Adora Yau sprayed a ball wide to Evans whose delivery resulted in a blocked shot from Wolstencroft. United maintained their offensive and on 54 minutes Chambers swung a corner to the far post where centre half Chelsea Patient rose highest to head home her first goal of the season and the Reds looked to press their ascendancy as Chorltonians struggled to contain the home side.

On the hour, spearheading a thrust from midfield, Yau receiving a pass from Leah Hartshorne, was unceremoniously tripped a yard outside the area. Chambers composed herself before curling an impeccable free kick round the wall and past Callaghan at her far post resulting in ecstatic celebrations on and off the pitch as the FC faithful burst into joyful song. All of a sudden the cold, wind and rain mattered a whole lot less.

With the title now in sight, United were in rampant mood and although Chorltonians rallied valiantly the Reds were in no mood to be denied and inside the final ten minutes made absolutely certain of victory and the title as good work on the left from Chambers, Aimee Cooke and Wolstencroft resulted in Yau curling a sublime shot from the angle of the area over Callaghan and into the back of the net.

United maintained their control of the game and as referee Graham Warner called time, concentration and desire melted into relief and joyous champagne soaked celebrations as the whole squad and staff headed over to the supporters to whom the victory meant equally as much. Well done and well deserved to the whole squad, manager, coaches and backroom team for delivering a long-awaited title win.

Supporters will be able to show their appreciation of the women’s team’s efforts at half time at the home game against Stamford this coming Saturday at Bower Fold, as the squad will be parading before the crowd.

Next Sunday, 19 April, United host mid table Oldham Athletic in their last league game of a championship winning season before attention turns to cup semi finals on 26 April and 3 May. Get yourself to that football ground and help create a celebratory atmosphere that the team more than deserve.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the game: Amy Battel – determined, no nonsense defending in atrocious conditions and a real danger surging forward from full back at every opportunity.

Teams 12 April 2015: Attendance: 67

FC United of Manchester Women: 4 (1)
1. Chloe Williams (Goal Keeper)
2. Amy Battel (Right Back)
17. Jess McCarrick (centre half)
5. Chelsea Patient (centre half) (Goal 54mins)
12. Jess Tonge (left back)
7. Beth Hayes (right midfield)
8. Adora Yau (centre midfield) (Goal 84mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (centre midfield)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (right midfield) (Goal 40mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield) (Goal 59mins)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward)
Subs:
3. Nicole Worthington
4. Aimee Cooke (for No12 35mins)
6. Shauna Ward
15. Hannah Dobie
16. Charlie Evans (for No7 35mins)

Chorltonians LFC: 2 (2)
1. Natalie Callaghan
10. Ellie Caddick
6. Elizabeth Livesey
26. Judy Henson
3. Joy Windle
27. Fleur Durham
8. Ellie Taylor
20. Jaymie Leigh-Blake
18. Jamila Hodges (Goal 34mins)
23. Sarah Leigh-Bergin (Goal 25mins)
7. Jordana Shaw
Subs:
17. Shauna Edmondson (for No7 8mins)
9. Charlai Watson (for No 17 66mins)
32. Kate Ellis (for No 20 60mins)
Roll on Roll off changes:
On No7 for No8 60mins
On No8 for No27 72mins
On No20 for No18 75mins
On No17 for No17 78mins

Referee: Graham Warner
Venue: Abraham Moss Centre, Crumpsall.
Match Report
FC United’s women’s team are champions at the third time of asking after Lee Sutton’s side did themselves and the Club proud, brightening up a dreadful afternoon with a dazzling second half display in Crumpsall to win 4-2 against south Manchester rivals, Chorltonians LFC.

The victory over second placed Chorltonians gives the Reds an unassailable lead at the top of Greater Manchester Women’s Football League, Division 1 with one game left, sparking jubilant, emotional celebrations at the end of a game of two contrasting halves.

Chorltonians played the conditions perfectly in a wind-assisted first half and United found themselves two goals down in just over half an hour. Shellby Wolstencroft gave United a vital foothold in the game with a superb strike as the Reds finished the half strongly in the face of a strengthening gale.

Ironically the wind dropped at the start of the second half as the rain intensified but United, needing just a point to claim the title, weren’t to be denied and goals from Chelsea Patient, Kirsty Chambers and Adora Yau without reply saw the Reds over the line.

United started the game in front of a record home crowd for the season, as both sides took a while to come to terms with the extreme weather conditions. The visitors, despite an early set back losing the dangerous Jordana Shaw to injury on eight minutes, settled the better with United struggling to clear their lines on numerous occasions due to the incessant headwind. On the quarter hour, a Chorltonians throw level with the United penalty area fell kindly to Shaw’s replacement, Shauna Edmondson, who thundered a dipping 20-yard half-volley over the defence and keeper to be denied by the crossbar as the rebound blew harmlessly behind for a goal kick.

In a rare counter thrust, Chambers cut in from the right, slotting a defence-splitting through ball into the path of Wolstencroft whose shot was too close to Natalie Callaghan in the visitors’ goal as the custodian held on comfortably. As United looked to assert themselves on proceedings, Beth Hayes released Feiruz Abdullahi down the left and the striker outpaced the covering defenders firing across Callaghan but agonisingly seeing her strike deflect away off the far post.

As the half passed its midpoint, Chorltonians earned a corner and Sarah Leigh-Bergin swept her delivery dangerously into the area with the flight deceiving Chloe Williams at her near post and in the swirling conditions the United keeper could not prevent the ball from crossing the line to give the visitors a 1-0 lead on 25 minutes. Following the goal and sensing United were struggling in the conditions, Chorltonians grew in stature and things went from bad to worse for the home side on 35 minutes. Jamila Hodges tricked her way through United’s central defence, turned and fired unerringly past the despairing dive of Williams from the edge of the area to double the visitors’ lead.

In response to going two behind, United made two decisive changes in personnel and responded almost immediately. Abdullahi fashioned a ball into the feet of Wolstencroft in the area and the striker controlled instantly and swept a shot high into the net off the underside of Callaghan’s bar on 40 minutes giving the Reds a vital foothold in the game. Amy Battel linked well with the introduced Charlie Evans down the right as United finished the half a goal down but on the front foot.

Chorltonians got the second half underway but United carried the game to them in search of the all important equaliser. Adora Yau sprayed a ball wide to Evans whose delivery resulted in a blocked shot from Wolstencroft. United maintained their offensive and on 54 minutes Chambers swung a corner to the far post where centre half Chelsea Patient rose highest to head home her first goal of the season and the Reds looked to press their ascendancy as Chorltonians struggled to contain the home side.

On the hour, spearheading a thrust from midfield, Yau receiving a pass from Leah Hartshorne, was unceremoniously tripped a yard outside the area. Chambers composed herself before curling an impeccable free kick round the wall and past Callaghan at her far post resulting in ecstatic celebrations on and off the pitch as the FC faithful burst into joyful song. All of a sudden the cold, wind and rain mattered a whole lot less.

With the title now in sight, United were in rampant mood and although Chorltonians rallied valiantly the Reds were in no mood to be denied and inside the final ten minutes made absolutely certain of victory and the title as good work on the left from Chambers, Aimee Cooke and Wolstencroft resulted in Yau curling a sublime shot from the angle of the area over Callaghan and into the back of the net.

United maintained their control of the game and as referee Graham Warner called time, concentration and desire melted into relief and joyous champagne soaked celebrations as the whole squad and staff headed over to the supporters to whom the victory meant equally as much. Well done and well deserved to the whole squad, manager, coaches and backroom team for delivering a long-awaited title win.

Supporters will be able to show their appreciation of the women’s team’s efforts at half time at the home game against Stamford this coming Saturday at Bower Fold, as the squad will be parading before the crowd.

Next Sunday, 19 April, United host mid table Oldham Athletic in their last league game of a championship winning season before attention turns to cup semi finals on 26 April and 3 May. Get yourself to that football ground and help create a celebratory atmosphere that the team more than deserve.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the game: Amy Battel – determined, no nonsense defending in atrocious conditions and a real danger surging forward from full back at every opportunity.

Teams 12 April 2015: Attendance: 67

FC United of Manchester Women: 4 (1)
1. Chloe Williams (Goal Keeper)
2. Amy Battel (Right Back)
17. Jess McCarrick (centre half)
5. Chelsea Patient (centre half) (Goal 54mins)
12. Jess Tonge (left back)
7. Beth Hayes (right midfield)
8. Adora Yau (centre midfield) (Goal 84mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (centre midfield)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (right midfield) (Goal 40mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield) (Goal 59mins)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward)
Subs:
3. Nicole Worthington
4. Aimee Cooke (for No12 35mins)
6. Shauna Ward
15. Hannah Dobie
16. Charlie Evans (for No7 35mins)

Chorltonians LFC: 2 (2)
1. Natalie Callaghan
10. Ellie Caddick
6. Elizabeth Livesey
26. Judy Henson
3. Joy Windle
27. Fleur Durham
8. Ellie Taylor
20. Jaymie Leigh-Blake
18. Jamila Hodges (Goal 34mins)
23. Sarah Leigh-Bergin (Goal 25mins)
7. Jordana Shaw
Subs:
17. Shauna Edmondson (for No7 8mins)
9. Charlai Watson (for No 17 66mins)
32. Kate Ellis (for No 20 60mins)
Roll on Roll off changes:
On No7 for No8 60mins
On No8 for No27 72mins
On No20 for No18 75mins
On No17 for No17 78mins

Referee: Graham Warner
Venue: Abraham Moss Centre, Crumpsall.

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28/09/2014 1-3W
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15/12/2013 3-0W
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