Match Report
The Hough End Centre, bathed in the warmth of late summer and home to Chorltonians LFC and GMP’s horses, played host to FC United’s women who took the spoils winning 3-1 in front of 41 spectators, 2 police horses and Mittsy, the referee’s pet dog.
Feiruz Abdullahi and Kirsty Chambers scored inside the first ten minutes as United raced into a two-goal lead. Chambers scored another half way through the half and Jordana Shaw pulled one back for Chorltonians early in the second as the game became much tighter with chances for both teams but no further goals.
The hosts got proceedings underway and fashioned the game’s first opportunity as the tricky Shaw took advantage of an FC back pass going one on one with Mary Priestner as the FC custodian made herself tall and blocked the shot. A quick bowl out by Priestner found Amy Battel whose pass hit the feet of Charlie Evans. Evans turned and played a ball over the top for Abdullahi to spin behind the defence, drive goalwards and slot coolly slotted past Natalie Callaghan on four minutes notching the women’s team’s 200th goal into the bargain. The scorer of the 100th, Beth Tattersall, still on crutches from her cup final broken leg, watched on appreciatively.
United pressed on following the restart and from a short corner Chambers jinked into the left edge of the area and shaped a superb lofted shot over Callaghan and in at the far post to double the lead on six minutes. The home side responded well forcing a corner on ten minutes that was cleared by a combination of Jess Tonge and Abdullahi but Chorltonians pressed on, forcing a free kick on the right that was swung goalwards by Jayme Leigh-Blake and well fielded by Priestner.
United soaked up the pressure and responded by breaking down the right with Amy Battel drawing a foul on the right edge of the area. Chambers set her sights and curled her free kick over Callaghan on 25 minutes nestling in at the far post in almost exactly the same spot as her earlier goal. Again Chorltonians responded well and a skewed ball over the top resulted in Shaw squeezing between the retreating centre halves getting bundled over and winning a penalty. Shaw herself stepped up to take responsibility and for the second time in the game Priestner denied her a goal as the spot kick came straight at the keeper.
In the aftermath, FC broke to good effect as Abdullahi was put through by an excellent through ball from debutant Shauna Ward but was unceremoniously bundled over on the right edge of the area by Elizabeth Livesey who was cautioned by referee Warner for her challenge. Once again Chambers set her sights in a copy cat position and was only denied her hatrick by the thickness of the crossbar. The last action of the half saw Abdullahi head a Chambers’ corner goalwards from close range with her effort well saved by Callaghan.
Chorltonians, the only team besides Champions Middleton to beat United last season, started the second half on the front foot forcing a free kick that Leigh-Blake fired in dangerously for Jamila Hodges to steer just wide. Their endeavours finally paid off on 50 minutes as the pacey Shaw was first to a through ball beating the on rushing Priestner at the third time of asking and slotting into an unguarded net to reduce the deficit.
Despite no further goals in the game it was United who fashioned a host of opportunities with Chambers, Wolstencroft, Aimee Cooke, Beth Hayes and Abdullahi coming close from range. The move of the half saw Battel sweep a ball into the area for Wolstencroft to volley first time from 12 yards forcing Callaghan to tip over superbly.
It was the hosts who had the last opportunity of the game as Ellie Taylor latched onto a ball over the top and fired over Priestner but only just over the bar as referee Mr Warner called time on an absorbing encounter. A perfect start to their third season for FC’s women as they look forward to next week’s encounter away to Oldham Athletic. Get yourselves along to support the team in their bid for a third win on the spin.
Report by Rob Fullen.
Player of the game: Leah Hartshorne – an assured centre half performance in the first half and doing a shielding job in front of the back four second half.
Teams 28th September 2014: Attendance: 41
Chorltonians: 1 (0)
1. Natalie Callaghan
10. Ellie Caddick
6. Elizabeth Livesey (cautioned 31 mins)
23. Sarah Leigh-Bergin (Captain)
3. Joy Windle
20. Jayme Leigh-Blake
8. Ellie Taylor
14. Courtney Bamber
18. Jamila Hodges
7. Jordana Shaw (goal 50 mins)
11. Denicha Wellington
Subs:
9. Charlay Walton
15. Mary McMahon
22. Natalie Dawson for No8 27 mins
Roll on Roll off:
No8 for No11 46mins
FC United of Manchester Women: 3(1)
1. Mary Priestner (Goalkeeper)
2. Amy Battel (right back)
18. Leah Hartshorne (centre half)
7. Beth Hayes (centre half)
12. Jess Tonge (left back)
3. Nicola Carlin (centre midfield)
17. Shauna Ward (centre midfield - debut)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield) (goals 6 & 25mins)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward) (goal 4 mins: FCW’s 200th goal)
Subs:
4. Aimee Cooke for No 2 25 mins
5. Chelsea Patient for No 18 46 mins
6. Holly Prestige (not used)
8. Katie Mooney (not used)
15. Abbie Carrington for No12 46 mins
Roll on Roll off:
No2 for No3 46 mins
No18 for No17 70 mins
Referee: Graham Warner
Venue: The Hough End Centre.
Match Report
The Hough End Centre, bathed in the warmth of late summer and home to Chorltonians LFC and GMP’s horses, played host to FC United’s women who took the spoils winning 3-1 in front of 41 spectators, 2 police horses and Mittsy, the referee’s pet dog.
Feiruz Abdullahi and Kirsty Chambers scored inside the first ten minutes as United raced into a two-goal lead. Chambers scored another half way through the half and Jordana Shaw pulled one back for Chorltonians early in the second as the game became much tighter with chances for both teams but no further goals.
The hosts got proceedings underway and fashioned the game’s first opportunity as the tricky Shaw took advantage of an FC back pass going one on one with Mary Priestner as the FC custodian made herself tall and blocked the shot. A quick bowl out by Priestner found Amy Battel whose pass hit the feet of Charlie Evans. Evans turned and played a ball over the top for Abdullahi to spin behind the defence, drive goalwards and slot coolly slotted past Natalie Callaghan on four minutes notching the women’s team’s 200th goal into the bargain. The scorer of the 100th, Beth Tattersall, still on crutches from her cup final broken leg, watched on appreciatively.
United pressed on following the restart and from a short corner Chambers jinked into the left edge of the area and shaped a superb lofted shot over Callaghan and in at the far post to double the lead on six minutes. The home side responded well forcing a corner on ten minutes that was cleared by a combination of Jess Tonge and Abdullahi but Chorltonians pressed on, forcing a free kick on the right that was swung goalwards by Jayme Leigh-Blake and well fielded by Priestner.
United soaked up the pressure and responded by breaking down the right with Amy Battel drawing a foul on the right edge of the area. Chambers set her sights and curled her free kick over Callaghan on 25 minutes nestling in at the far post in almost exactly the same spot as her earlier goal. Again Chorltonians responded well and a skewed ball over the top resulted in Shaw squeezing between the retreating centre halves getting bundled over and winning a penalty. Shaw herself stepped up to take responsibility and for the second time in the game Priestner denied her a goal as the spot kick came straight at the keeper.
In the aftermath, FC broke to good effect as Abdullahi was put through by an excellent through ball from debutant Shauna Ward but was unceremoniously bundled over on the right edge of the area by Elizabeth Livesey who was cautioned by referee Warner for her challenge. Once again Chambers set her sights in a copy cat position and was only denied her hatrick by the thickness of the crossbar. The last action of the half saw Abdullahi head a Chambers’ corner goalwards from close range with her effort well saved by Callaghan.
Chorltonians, the only team besides Champions Middleton to beat United last season, started the second half on the front foot forcing a free kick that Leigh-Blake fired in dangerously for Jamila Hodges to steer just wide. Their endeavours finally paid off on 50 minutes as the pacey Shaw was first to a through ball beating the on rushing Priestner at the third time of asking and slotting into an unguarded net to reduce the deficit.
Despite no further goals in the game it was United who fashioned a host of opportunities with Chambers, Wolstencroft, Aimee Cooke, Beth Hayes and Abdullahi coming close from range. The move of the half saw Battel sweep a ball into the area for Wolstencroft to volley first time from 12 yards forcing Callaghan to tip over superbly.
It was the hosts who had the last opportunity of the game as Ellie Taylor latched onto a ball over the top and fired over Priestner but only just over the bar as referee Mr Warner called time on an absorbing encounter. A perfect start to their third season for FC’s women as they look forward to next week’s encounter away to Oldham Athletic. Get yourselves along to support the team in their bid for a third win on the spin.
Report by Rob Fullen.
Player of the game: Leah Hartshorne – an assured centre half performance in the first half and doing a shielding job in front of the back four second half.
Teams 28th September 2014: Attendance: 41
Chorltonians: 1 (0)
1. Natalie Callaghan
10. Ellie Caddick
6. Elizabeth Livesey (cautioned 31 mins)
23. Sarah Leigh-Bergin (Captain)
3. Joy Windle
20. Jayme Leigh-Blake
8. Ellie Taylor
14. Courtney Bamber
18. Jamila Hodges
7. Jordana Shaw (goal 50 mins)
11. Denicha Wellington
Subs:
9. Charlay Walton
15. Mary McMahon
22. Natalie Dawson for No8 27 mins
Roll on Roll off:
No8 for No11 46mins
FC United of Manchester Women: 3(1)
1. Mary Priestner (Goalkeeper)
2. Amy Battel (right back)
18. Leah Hartshorne (centre half)
7. Beth Hayes (centre half)
12. Jess Tonge (left back)
3. Nicola Carlin (centre midfield)
17. Shauna Ward (centre midfield - debut)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield) (goals 6 & 25mins)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward) (goal 4 mins: FCW’s 200th goal)
Subs:
4. Aimee Cooke for No 2 25 mins
5. Chelsea Patient for No 18 46 mins
6. Holly Prestige (not used)
8. Katie Mooney (not used)
15. Abbie Carrington for No12 46 mins
Roll on Roll off:
No2 for No3 46 mins
No18 for No17 70 mins
Referee: Graham Warner
Venue: The Hough End Centre.
