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The FCUMW Midweek Rundown - w/c 24th February

Your ’FCUMW Midweek Rundown’ is a fortnightly roundup and the latest update on all things FC United Women…

1 – Reds break clean sheet record: Sunday’s 1-0 win at Mossley Hill saw FCUMW record a sixth successive clean sheet for the first time in club history. In the record-breaking run, United have recorded six wins from six, beginning with a 5-0 victory over the same opponents back in December. It now means that goalkeeper Chloe Ainsworth and her teammates haven’t conceded in over 600 minutes of football, since going 2-1 down in the 19th minute at Accrington in November.

2 – Fifth tier double trouble: The pair of clean sheets in the two league games against Mossley Hill are the Reds’ first ever at this level in the football pyramid. It comes just a week after United recorded their first ever league double over a team, after beating Accrington Girls & Ladies for the second time this season. Following the 4-2 win on the road in late November, United’s 13-0 victory last weekend completed the first fifth tier double in women’s football for the club.

3 – Skipper in form: Kirsty Chambers’ match-winning goal on Sunday was just the latest moment in a blistering start to 2019 for the FCUMW captain. Since the turn of the year, Chambers has racked up 11 goals in just five appearances, including an eight-goal haul in the recent win over Accrington Girls & Ladies. Speaking after that game, manager Luke Podmore expressed delight at his captain’s work ethic and overall role in the team: “Kirsty [Chambers] is such a reliable person, she’s involved with the core of the team. She’s been the captain for so long now that I think it’s just ingrained in her to do these things and be that sort of person in the group.” You can hear more of the boss’ thoughts on the skipper and much more in our feature interview with Luke, out later this week.

4 – Upcoming fixture reversed: Earlier this week, it was announced that United’s scheduled league visit of Sir Tom Finney Ladies to Broadhurst Park, on Sunday 3 March, had been reversed to an away fixture for FC. The game will now be played at the home of Sir Tom Finney LFC; UCLAN Sports Arena 1, Tom Benson Way, Cottam, Preston, PR2 1SG. The game will still be the usual 2pm kick-off. A first FC hat-trick for Jess Battle helped us to a 3-2 Argyle Cup quarter-final victory on our last visit to STF, in February 2017.

5 – Argyle Cup opponents confirmed: Penrith AFC Ladies will be the visitors to Broadhurst Park to face Luke Podmore’s defending champions in the quarter-finals of this season’s Argyle Cup. The Reds have won the trophy in back-to-back seasons and will have to overcome fellow NWWRL Premier Division side on Sunday 10th March (2pm KO) if the bid to win it for a third successive season is to stay alive. It comes after Penrith’s third round win on penalties (3-1) after drawing 3-3 with Cammel Laird 1907. FC knocked Penrith out of the competition on last season’s road to lifting the trophy, with an 11-0 win at Broadhurst.

By Mikey Partington


First Posted ~ 15:22 Wed 27 Feb 2019
News ID ~ 8283
Last Updated ~ 22:45 Thu 4 Feb 2021