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United's women move to within a point of the league leaders with victory on Merseyside

After exiting the Argyle cup 3-0 at the hands of high flying Bolton Wanderers last time out, Valentine’s Day saw a welcome return to league action and winning ways with a 4-2 victory away to Liverpool Marshall Feds Reserves. The victory, sealed with a brace from Shellby Wolstencroft and one each for Kirsty Chambers and Olivia Gannon, keeps the reds in title contention, moving to within one point of the league leaders, with their first three-point haul from four visits to Merseyside this season.

In the opening minutes of a closely contested first half, Feds’ number 12 made herself a handful for the FC defence. Firstly by firing narrowly wide across goal then by cutting in from the right to fire a left-footed shot that required a smart save from Mary Priestner in goal.
FC’s first real opportunity came on the half hour when Wolstencroft was brought down to concede a free kick on the edge of the area. Captain Chambers’ effort hit the post and a shot on the rebound from Leah Hartshorne was blocked for a corner.

However it was only five minutes later, just past the half hour that FC took the lead. Lucy Bonner led a break and played the perfect pass inside to Chambers who placed a first time shot past the keeper.

There was a frantic finish to the first half with chances at both ends. Wolstencroft shuffled past two defenders but shot narrowly wide. Play soon transferred to the other end where Priestner was called upon to block a shot following a quick breakaway move by the home side. Chambers then caught everyone by surprise with an ambitious looping shot-cum-cross from the left that had Feds’ keeper scrambling across to punch away at the far post and the half ended with FC United holding a slender advantage.

Early in the second half, Wolstencroft continued to cause problems to the opposition. Within seconds of the restart, she burst through but had her shot blocked by an alert defender. However, shortly afterwards, the FC No9 was clear again and lofted the ball over the advancing keeper only to be denied by a timely goalmouth clearance.
Similar action was required at the other end when an apparent misunderstanding between Priestner and Charlie Evans saw the ball seized upon by the opposition and a shot roll towards an unguarded FC net from about 35 yards. It was Evans who redeemed the situation by racing back to clear for a corner.

Tempers began to fray as the game entered a crucial period. Bonner was withdrawn in favour of Gannon shortly after being spoken to by the referee for appearing to take a retaliatory swipe with her boot at an opponent. In the meantime, Priestner came to FC’s rescue again, making a standing block to another breakaway effort from Feds’ troublesome no. 12.

On the whole, the referee did well to keep control of a feisty encounter without resorting to his cards although Wolstencroft was aggrieved to be on the receiving end of a lecture for her reaction to a clash that left a nasty bruise on her thigh. However, regardless of rights or wrongs, the incident seemed to fire Wolstencroft up even more. On 74 minutes, she doubled FC United’s lead although the hard work was done by Beth Tattersall firing an undefendable low ball across the goalmouth from the right which eluded all but the FC striker who angled her shot in from beyond the far post to double the lead. Only four minutes later, Wolstencroft bagged her second and FC’s third with a cleverly executed chip over the keeper on the run that just dipped in under the crossbar.

Gannon, who’d earlier snatched a left foot effort wide, made no mistake with a header from a precise cross by fellow sub Millie Day that made the score 4-0 with ten minutes left on the clock. Marshalls Feds didn’t lie down though. Jo Murray gave Priestner no chance with a shot direct from a free-kick to bring the deficit back to three. Then, in a lengthy period of added time resulting from a worrying looking knee injury sustained by a home defender, Priestner failed to gather a shot that went on to hit the foot of the post before being turned in by Danielle Evans on the rebound. However if that was a lapse by Mary, it was entirely forgivable following earlier saves that played a big part in setting FC United up for the eventual win.

There was still time for Wolstencroft to cause more headaches for the home side but she was denied a hat-trick by a fine one-handed point-blank save by the keeper. Despite an excellent win, FC might feel slightly put out to have seen their four goal lead cut back to two late on but the final score probably does more justice to the part played by the home side in a competitive encounter.

This weekend coming, FC’s women visit old foes, Middleton Athletic in The Manchester FA Cup. Middleton’s Mayfield Sports Centre, Keswick Street Ground (also home to Rochdale Town, formerly Castleton Gabriel’s) is the site of the FC women’s team’s first ever fixture when they played Sunday’s hosts in a friendly back in July 2012. Get yourself down memory lane back to where it all began for a 2pm kick-off.

Report by Phil Bradbury

FC Player of the game: Shellby Wolstencroft – A constant threat scoring two well taken and timely goals to seal the win.

Teams 14 February 2016: Attendance:

FC United of Manchester Women: 4 (1)
1. Mary Priestner
15. Jess McCarrick
2. Fran Davies
16. Charlie Evans
18. Leah Hartshorne
7. Beth Hayes
8. Adora Yau
10. Beth Tattersall
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain) (Goal 35mins)
6. Lucy Bonner
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (Goals 74 & 78mins)

Subs:
3. Olivia Gannon (for No6 69mins and Goal 80mins)

Liverpool Marshalls Feds Reserves: 2 (0)
Team Sheet Not Available
Scorers: No 6 Jo Murray (84mins), No 9 Danielle Evans (90mins)

Referee:
Venue: I M Marsh Sports Centre, Barkhill Road, Liverpool, L17 6BD



First Posted ~ 16:04 Tue 16 Feb 2016
News ID ~ 6674
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021