Match Report
FC United Women still await their first point of the new season as they find their feet in the FA Women’s National League Division One North. It was a much more encouraging performance away to Chester-le-Street Town.
Tom Fitton’s side were still missing a few players with Allisha Marsh, Holly Davenport and Jordon Bailey injured, Chloe Wild ill, Olivia Smith and Alex Everett also unavailable. Fans who saw last week’s opening 6-0 home defeat to Newcastle United must have feared a repeat as, despite two early raids on the Chester-le-Street goal, FC fell behind after only five minutes with Thompson-Clarke getting away down the left and finding Havery on hand to put the ball away from the resulting cross.
Cunliffe had the ball in the net for FC United but was denied by an offside flag. Shortly afterwards, Kirsty Chambers had a go from about 25 yards but a deflection took the sting out of the shot and made it an easy save for keeper Jones. And there were further chances for the visitors as Kennerley fired in a looping shot that Jones had to tip over for a corner. Chambers then set up Hartley for a shot that looped over the bar and then the Reds’ captain went close herself with a shot from distance.
However just as an equaliser was looking on the cards, Chester-le-Street again broke away and doubled the lead when Havery got a clear run at goal. Her initial shot was well blocked by the ever-alert Chloe Ainsworth in FC’s goal … but an unfortunate deflection off Donelan presented Havery with a virtually open goal to tap in her second of the match.
There were further chances at both ends as Hartley had a shot blocked by the keeper and O’Gara almost punished an uncertain defensive header but fired just over. In between, Emily Marsh did well to keep pace with runaway Thompson-Clarke forcing the home side’s no. 11 to fire over from some way out.
Despite the two goal deficit, FC made a bright start to the second half with Hartley having to stretch to get in a shot that was saved and Cunliffe beating the keeper in a chase for the ball and putting it in the net only to see it ruled out for offside.
However there was no doubt about it moments later Cunliffe got into space to cross from the right and found O’Gara who, in turn, found the roof of the net to halve the deficit.
The goal signalled the start of an exciting period of the game with chances at both ends. Cunliffe and Rigby both went close for FC while, at the other end, Ainsworth pulled off a superb save to deny Havery a hat-trick with a shot on the spin and was called into action again to block Knox on a break although the Chester-le-Street player was well-shadowed by Hunt.
Further chances for FC saw a Chambers corner kick delivered low across the goalmouth but go untouched. Davies tried her luck with a shot looped in from some way out, wide on the right that Jones had to position herself carefully to catch under the bar. Jones then made a double save, firstly from Hartley and then blocking O’Gara’s shot on the follow up.
Within a minute of that though, FC found themselves another goal behind as Ellison found space to cross from the right and Maggs, not long after coming on as a substitute, found the net with a diving header that looped over Ainsworth to make it 3-1.
The home side made good use of their substitutions though and the game was made safe with three minutes to go as Mellor won a header and directed the ball into the stride of Proud who fired in from the right hand side of the area.
There was some consolation for FC though as O’Gara touched in a cross from Mather. Too late to affect the outcome of the game but it certainly seemed to make the score a fairer reflection of FC United’s contribution to a competitive encounter.
Clearly there were lessons to learn as, just as in last week’s defeat to Newcastle, the Reds had over 60% of possession and more shots at goal than the opposition but weren’t able to make it count and were punished for lapses in defence.
FC United Women go again on Wednesday evening 25th August against Bradford City. Kick off is 8pm at Broadhurst Park.
By Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the Match: Katie O’Gara
Match day photography (by Mark Lee): view here
Match Report
FC United Women still await their first point of the new season as they find their feet in the FA Women’s National League Division One North. It was a much more encouraging performance away to Chester-le-Street Town.
Tom Fitton’s side were still missing a few players with Allisha Marsh, Holly Davenport and Jordon Bailey injured, Chloe Wild ill, Olivia Smith and Alex Everett also unavailable. Fans who saw last week’s opening 6-0 home defeat to Newcastle United must have feared a repeat as, despite two early raids on the Chester-le-Street goal, FC fell behind after only five minutes with Thompson-Clarke getting away down the left and finding Havery on hand to put the ball away from the resulting cross.
Cunliffe had the ball in the net for FC United but was denied by an offside flag. Shortly afterwards, Kirsty Chambers had a go from about 25 yards but a deflection took the sting out of the shot and made it an easy save for keeper Jones. And there were further chances for the visitors as Kennerley fired in a looping shot that Jones had to tip over for a corner. Chambers then set up Hartley for a shot that looped over the bar and then the Reds’ captain went close herself with a shot from distance.
However just as an equaliser was looking on the cards, Chester-le-Street again broke away and doubled the lead when Havery got a clear run at goal. Her initial shot was well blocked by the ever-alert Chloe Ainsworth in FC’s goal … but an unfortunate deflection off Donelan presented Havery with a virtually open goal to tap in her second of the match.
There were further chances at both ends as Hartley had a shot blocked by the keeper and O’Gara almost punished an uncertain defensive header but fired just over. In between, Emily Marsh did well to keep pace with runaway Thompson-Clarke forcing the home side’s no. 11 to fire over from some way out.
Despite the two goal deficit, FC made a bright start to the second half with Hartley having to stretch to get in a shot that was saved and Cunliffe beating the keeper in a chase for the ball and putting it in the net only to see it ruled out for offside.
However there was no doubt about it moments later Cunliffe got into space to cross from the right and found O’Gara who, in turn, found the roof of the net to halve the deficit.
The goal signalled the start of an exciting period of the game with chances at both ends. Cunliffe and Rigby both went close for FC while, at the other end, Ainsworth pulled off a superb save to deny Havery a hat-trick with a shot on the spin and was called into action again to block Knox on a break although the Chester-le-Street player was well-shadowed by Hunt.
Further chances for FC saw a Chambers corner kick delivered low across the goalmouth but go untouched. Davies tried her luck with a shot looped in from some way out, wide on the right that Jones had to position herself carefully to catch under the bar. Jones then made a double save, firstly from Hartley and then blocking O’Gara’s shot on the follow up.
Within a minute of that though, FC found themselves another goal behind as Ellison found space to cross from the right and Maggs, not long after coming on as a substitute, found the net with a diving header that looped over Ainsworth to make it 3-1.
The home side made good use of their substitutions though and the game was made safe with three minutes to go as Mellor won a header and directed the ball into the stride of Proud who fired in from the right hand side of the area.
There was some consolation for FC though as O’Gara touched in a cross from Mather. Too late to affect the outcome of the game but it certainly seemed to make the score a fairer reflection of FC United’s contribution to a competitive encounter.
Clearly there were lessons to learn as, just as in last week’s defeat to Newcastle, the Reds had over 60% of possession and more shots at goal than the opposition but weren’t able to make it count and were punished for lapses in defence.
FC United Women go again on Wednesday evening 25th August against Bradford City. Kick off is 8pm at Broadhurst Park.
By Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the Match: Katie O’Gara
Match day photography (by Mark Lee): view here
