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Women's Team midfielder Beth Tattersall delighted with Reds' campaign so far

In recent weeks, United have continued to put up positive results with midfielder Beth Tattersall a prominent part of the Reds’ fruitfully-attacking displays of late. After being sidelined in the opening weeks of the season due to a number of injuries, the long-serving midfielder has really found some form on her return to the pitch, a run that included her picking up the Player of the Match award in United’s recent 4-1 win over Curzon Ashton LFC.

Following the positive display both individually and for the team as a whole, Tattersall was more than pleased with the day’s work against Curzon earlier this month. "It’s been a frustrating season for me personally, carrying a few niggles and struggling with my confidence but with the help and support of the management, the team and the fans, I have been given the opportunity to up my game and that’s exactly what I did against Curzon. I felt confident that I put in a good performance that game and was therefore over the moon when I received Player of the Match".

Having spent a lot of the early-season on the touchline due to injury, Tattersall admits that the motivation to recover came from her desire to get back in the Reds’ starting XI. "A lot of us have suffered with injuries recently but the squad is top class regardless so there is always healthy competition for a place on gameday. I, of course, want to be a starter on a matchday and that has never changed so all I can put it [the motivation to recover] down to is pushing myself and wanting to better myself as a player".

With it being her sixth season at the club, Tattersall has seen the complete progression of the team over the years and is complimentary towards the manager Luke Podmore for how he has continued to push the team on during his time in charge up to this point. "This year is definitely different to all the others and that’s mainly down to Luke really. He brings professionalism, enthusiasm and first class tactics and you can’t fault him for that".

"One thing that remains the same and always will, is the family feel at FC. We are all in it together win, lose or draw and that’s the best feeling ever", Tattersall added.

Off the back of the Curzon win two weeks earlier, the Reds’ were held to a 1-1 draw last weekend at home to a resilient Altrincham FC Ladies. It’s a result that Tattersall believes was just something of a hiccup. "I think that Altrincham upped their game this time around and were hungry for it, but we were just as equally on the day. I think us suffering a few injuries early on and the squad being small didn’t help but all in all, it was just a bad day at the office for us".

The draw with Altrincham did keep United’s unbeaten run alive in the league as we sit top of the table after seven game so far this season (W6 D1), by six points to second placed Warrington Wolverines. The midfielder has been delihgted with the start to the campaign. "I am massively proud of what the team have done so far this season. We have come so far and have absolutely smashed it, granted the occasional hiccups - but every team has those. The important thing is to learn and improve from them. We have a class set of players who continue to show their talent week in, week out - what more could you want?!"

In an attempt to bounce back from last Sunday’s draw, Warrington Wolverines are the visitors to Broadhurst Park for a top of the table clash tomorrow. Tattersall believes that preparations for the game have been perfect during the week from the side. "Training this week was fun but also creative and tactical. We have worked on things which will hopefully help us on Sunday and most importantly, get us a win. Training is always fast-paced and Luke [Podmore] is always encouraging us to ‘empty our tanks’, which is exactly what we did. You only see results when you work hard".

Warrington are a familiar opponent to Tattersall who scored in the 1-1 draw, the last time the two sides met in our final league game of last season. The midfielder is eager however, to come away with all three points tomorrow. "We are all eager to win this Sunday after our draw last week, so rest assured we will be on top form. We are a much better team to when we last played them and I think that will show. Hopefully it’ll be a good game of football and we will come out on top and I can help contribute to the scoreline with either an assist or a goal - we shall see!"

You can see Beth Tattersall and her FC teammates take on Warrington Wolverines in the league at Broadhurst Park (3G) tomorrow - 2pm KO!

We hope to see you there!

By Mikey Partington


First Posted ~ 21:47 Sat 25 Nov 2017
News ID ~ 7693
Last Updated ~ 00:47 Tue 16 Feb 2021