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City gain revenge on the Reds to go top of the league

A combination of bad weather and blank fixture weekends meant the encounter with Manchester City Ladies, at their Newall Green High School 3G home, was FC United Women’s first game since the Broadhurst victory over the Blues back on 11th November 2012. In the interim, joint Manager John Marsden had parted company with the club and Lee Sutton was handed sole charge with the invaluable support of Andy Rohman. On the playing staff side, the majority of the squad remained intact during the prolonged unofficial winter layoff but some niggling injuries plagued the team heading into the first fixture of the New Year.

Arriving in style on a team coach, FC’s Women, though naturally nervous, were looking forward to the long awaited top-of-the-table rematch and the spirit in the camp was positive. City got the game underway, the first five minutes being a cagey affair, but a spell of pressure from the Blues resulted in their first corner which produced two goal-bound efforts that were determinedly blocked by the FC defence. Springing a counter attack, Beth Tattersall won and took the resulting corner which Shellby Wolstencroft met with an off-target header.

As the quarter hour approached, the impressive Olivia Greenhalgh worked the ball towards the edge of the City area feeding it to Tattersall who in turn threaded a pass to Wolstencroft who out- muscled the defence sliding her shot under Elizabeth Seasman from 12 yards to draw first blood.

United, keeping possession and looking to build on their lead, forced a free kick on the edge of the area which Kirsty Chambers fired goal-ward with Beth Hayes missing a certain goalscoring connection by a matter of inches. Further on-target efforts from Amy Vyas and Wolstencroft confirmed United’s ascendancy, when injury forced centre half Broghan Matthews off for treatment and as the Reds adjusted to a new formation a mazy run through midfield by arguably City’s best player Feiruz Ahmed, saw her forge into the area and slot an equaliser, against the run of play, past the outstretched arm of Amy Gillingham on 32 minutes.

Undaunted, United remained positive and on 36 minutes good work by Greenhalgh threw up a loose ball which Hayes instinctively half volleyed goalwards. It was a slow motion moment as the looping drive cleared the keeper but thundered against the bar and out of play; agonisingly close to restoring the Reds’ advantage. Maybe it was not destined to be United’s day as just five minutes later; a centre by Chambers was well gathered and volleyed on the turn by Wolstencroft from the penalty spot. Again the keeper was beaten and the effort hit the bar and glanced away from danger somehow leaving the scores level at the break. A half where United had five shots on target to City’s one, as well as five off target to City’s four.

City were a different prospect in the second half and found themselves in front as captain Olivia Chan met a retaken corner to head powerfully beyond Gillingham and goal line defender Amy Battel to give City a 48th minute lead.

Injuries began to take their toll on the already stretched United squad with Lee and Andy having to reshuffle the pack on a regular basis, taking advantage of the roll-on roll-off sub rule. The positive attitude from the Reds was evident throughout the remainder of the game and on 79 minutes once again the width of the goal frame prevented United doubling their tally; Chambers, bursting free down the left fired purposefully beating the keeper at her near post only for the shot to rebound off the upright and Tattersall’s effort with the loose ball was gathered gratefully by Seasman in the City goal.

United continued to press forward to no avail and a well organised City team seemed content to soak up the pressure and see out the game. However, City earned a free kick on the left some 30 yards from goal and everyone seemed to be expecting the ball to be centred; however Chan had other ideas and lofted her effort goalward deceiving Gillingham as it sailed into the back of net to give the skipper her second goal and the Blues a two-goal cushion. Shortly afterwards referee Graham Andrew brought the game to a close and both teams were deservedly applauded and cheered from the pitch.

A great effort from the Reds and despite the defeat there were many positives from the performance as the team now prepare for League and County Cup games starting with a rearranged League Cup fixture against AFC Oldham at Broadhurst on Sunday 13th January at 2pm.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the match: Several good performances but Olivia Greenhalgh stood out in centre midfield, breaking up play and setting FC on the front foot creating several chances for her team mates.

Match Stats Courtesy of Paul (Statto) Hinson: Corners 9-2 City, Shots On-Target: 7-5 City, Off-Target 7-5 City, Free-kicks Won, 15-8 FC, Pass Completion: 53.7% FC, 43.7% City

Teams 6 January 2013: Attendance: 134

Manchester City Ladies FC: 3 (1)
1. Elizabeth Seasmen
2. Maddy Gresty
3. Masa Butler
4. Olivia Chan (Captain) (Goals 47 & 88mins)
5. Rachel Mason
16. Holly Marshall
7. Lois Daniels
8. Beth Mellor
14. Louise McGilligan
10. Charlotte Hadfield
11. Feiruz Ahmed (Goal 32mins)

Subs:
12. Aimee Armsden (for No8 62mins)
9. Emma Massey (for No14 35mins)
15. Ellen Bergin
17. Kye Brown

FC United of Manchester Women: 1 (1)
1. Amy Gillingham (Goalkeeper and Captain)
2. Amy Battel (right back)
3. Adora Yau (left back)
4. Francesca Davies (centre half)
5. Broghan Matthews (centre half)
19. Olivia Greenhalgh (centre midfield)
17. Beth Hayes (centre midfield)
16. Amy Vyas (centre midfield)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward and goal 14mins)
10. Beth Tattersall (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (left midfield)

Subs:
12. Hayley O’Hara (for No10 48mins)
6. Jade Challender (for No5 28mins & later for No19 90mins rolling sub rule)
8. Maya Germain (for No3 37mins)
18. Claire O’Reilly (unused)
5. Broghan Matthews (for No6 52mins rolling sub rule)
10. Beth Tattersall (for No 9 60mins rolling sub rule)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (for No17 80mins rolling sub rule)



First Posted ~ 08:39 Mon 7 Jan 2013
News ID ~ 4657
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021