Reds take a step towards safety
Kirsty Chambers has been captain and integral part of FC United Women since the team’s inauguration in 2012 but can rarely, if ever, have made such a vital contribution as two superbly taken goals to earn three points in the Reds’ battle to stay in the FA Women’s National League Division One North.
It has to be said also though that the introduction of Chelsea Flanagan at half time was equally game changing as FC completed a notable home and away double - both featuring clean sheets - against the normally free-scoring team from Teesside.
Ellie Rigby went close for the Reds in the opening minutes, turning inside a defender before shooting wide of the near left hand post. However it was a somewhat shaky first half on the whole for the home side’s defence. Chloe Ainsworth appeared to misjudge a back pass that rolled under her foot for a corner from which a frantic scramble ensued with FC escaping thanks to a handball call against the visitors.
Rigby had another chance to open the scoring when holding off Burton in pursuit of a long ball but was unable to hit the target with a shot on the run.
Ainsworth then pulled off a double save, blocking a shot from the dangerous Millward and then recovering position to gather a looping shot on the follow up from Owens.
However FC could consider themselves fortunate to make it to half time still on level terms after a right wing cross was allowed to bounce in the area and fell handily for Owens to get in a shot on the volley which, at least partly thanks to the intervention of Chambers, flew over the bar.
The introduction of Chelsea Flanagan as a second half substitute saw the Reds looking much more confident going forward. The change could have paid off almost immediately from the restart with a ball to put Olivia Smith in sight of goal on the left side of the box but unable to get enough power into the shot to trouble Chisnall in the Ancients’ goal.
There was still an ever-present threat to the FC goal though as shown when Ainsworth had to come out and smother a ball being pursued by Millward with Mather giving chase.
Chambers then went close with a long range shot just over the bar, which appeared to be something of a ‘sighter’ in the light of what followed. Flanagan then went close with a right foot shot on the turn from the edge of the area again over the bar.
Then the two combined to break the deadlock. Flanagan won possession on the left and cut the ball back for Chambers to sweep in a shot of the inside of the far post to give the Reds a priceless lead.
Flanagan herself almost followed up with an immediate second goal but fired just wide across goal from the left. Kate O’Gara then pounced on a loose ball to flash a shot wide from the edge of the area.
The danger to FC’s goal hadn’t diminished though. Ancients’ substitute Hodgson managed to face through on goal, although under challenge from Mather it needed an excellent standing save from Ainsworth to preserve the lead.
Burton then fired high and wide with an a ambitious long range shot that suggested growing anxiety in the visiting team but came at a point where the FC defence was again starting to look a bit ragged. It needed Ainsworth to take control of the situation again when Owens launched a long ball into the area that was allowed to bounce but the FC keeper was alert enough to grab it and clear the danger.
With the home crowd anxious for the final whistle, the Reds broke away to put the result beyond doubt. It was Ashleigh Hayes, another second half substitute, who set things up with a run down the right before playing a ball to pick out Chambers on the far side of the area with enough time and space to take full advantage and pick a spot in the far corner to score with a looping shot.
There was a late spot of controversy when Betty Hall, introduced as an injury time substitute for FC, made her presence felt chasing a 50/50 ball into the box that resulted in a collision with keeper Chisnall who, standing with ball in hand, appeared to take a retaliatory swipe that would justified a penalty award with the ball being in play but went unpunished. However the matter was rendered academic as the final whistle blew soon afterwards.
FC women will be in action again, looking to follow up with another good result at home to Chorley at Broadhurst Park on Easter Sunday 17th April, kick off 2pm.
FC Player of the Match: Corie Mather
Report by Phil Bradbury
Referee: Ade Soneye Assistants: Lucy MacCabe & Niall Cotgrove
Stats - courtesy of Paul Hinson (FC United first)
Shots on target: 4-3
Shots off target: 11-11
Free kicks: 11-5
Corners: 4-11
Offsides: 2-4
Yellow Cards: 0-0
Red Cards: 0-0
Passes: 243-169
Possession: 59%-41%
Reds take a step towards safety
Kirsty Chambers has been captain and integral part of FC United Women since the team’s inauguration in 2012 but can rarely, if ever, have made such a vital contribution as two superbly taken goals to earn three points in the Reds’ battle to stay in the FA Women’s National League Division One North.
It has to be said also though that the introduction of Chelsea Flanagan at half time was equally game changing as FC completed a notable home and away double - both featuring clean sheets - against the normally free-scoring team from Teesside.
Ellie Rigby went close for the Reds in the opening minutes, turning inside a defender before shooting wide of the near left hand post. However it was a somewhat shaky first half on the whole for the home side’s defence. Chloe Ainsworth appeared to misjudge a back pass that rolled under her foot for a corner from which a frantic scramble ensued with FC escaping thanks to a handball call against the visitors.
Rigby had another chance to open the scoring when holding off Burton in pursuit of a long ball but was unable to hit the target with a shot on the run.
Ainsworth then pulled off a double save, blocking a shot from the dangerous Millward and then recovering position to gather a looping shot on the follow up from Owens.
However FC could consider themselves fortunate to make it to half time still on level terms after a right wing cross was allowed to bounce in the area and fell handily for Owens to get in a shot on the volley which, at least partly thanks to the intervention of Chambers, flew over the bar.
The introduction of Chelsea Flanagan as a second half substitute saw the Reds looking much more confident going forward. The change could have paid off almost immediately from the restart with a ball to put Olivia Smith in sight of goal on the left side of the box but unable to get enough power into the shot to trouble Chisnall in the Ancients’ goal.
There was still an ever-present threat to the FC goal though as shown when Ainsworth had to come out and smother a ball being pursued by Millward with Mather giving chase.
Chambers then went close with a long range shot just over the bar, which appeared to be something of a ‘sighter’ in the light of what followed. Flanagan then went close with a right foot shot on the turn from the edge of the area again over the bar.
Then the two combined to break the deadlock. Flanagan won possession on the left and cut the ball back for Chambers to sweep in a shot of the inside of the far post to give the Reds a priceless lead.
Flanagan herself almost followed up with an immediate second goal but fired just wide across goal from the left. Kate O’Gara then pounced on a loose ball to flash a shot wide from the edge of the area.
The danger to FC’s goal hadn’t diminished though. Ancients’ substitute Hodgson managed to face through on goal, although under challenge from Mather it needed an excellent standing save from Ainsworth to preserve the lead.
Burton then fired high and wide with an a ambitious long range shot that suggested growing anxiety in the visiting team but came at a point where the FC defence was again starting to look a bit ragged. It needed Ainsworth to take control of the situation again when Owens launched a long ball into the area that was allowed to bounce but the FC keeper was alert enough to grab it and clear the danger.
With the home crowd anxious for the final whistle, the Reds broke away to put the result beyond doubt. It was Ashleigh Hayes, another second half substitute, who set things up with a run down the right before playing a ball to pick out Chambers on the far side of the area with enough time and space to take full advantage and pick a spot in the far corner to score with a looping shot.
There was a late spot of controversy when Betty Hall, introduced as an injury time substitute for FC, made her presence felt chasing a 50/50 ball into the box that resulted in a collision with keeper Chisnall who, standing with ball in hand, appeared to take a retaliatory swipe that would justified a penalty award with the ball being in play but went unpunished. However the matter was rendered academic as the final whistle blew soon afterwards.
FC women will be in action again, looking to follow up with another good result at home to Chorley at Broadhurst Park on Easter Sunday 17th April, kick off 2pm.
FC Player of the Match: Corie Mather
Report by Phil Bradbury
Referee: Ade Soneye Assistants: Lucy MacCabe & Niall Cotgrove
Stats - courtesy of Paul Hinson (FC United first)
Shots on target: 4-3
Shots off target: 11-11
Free kicks: 11-5
Corners: 4-11
Offsides: 2-4
Yellow Cards: 0-0
Red Cards: 0-0
Passes: 243-169
Possession: 59%-41%
