FC United women’s mixture of old, new and returning players put in an encouraging performance in their fourth pre-season outing but mainly had goalkeeper Chloe Ainsworth to thank for a series of superb saves in earning a creditable draw against Sporting Khalsa at Broadhurst Park.
A bright opening quarter of an hour saw attempts on goal for the Reds from Richardson and Bailey but neither really stretched the Midlands side’s keeper. Kate O’Gara spread panic in the visitors’ defence though with an ambitious looping shot from distance that bounced over via the top of the crossbar.
Ainsworth was first called into action when a ball into the box gave Khalsa’s no. 10 chance to fire in a first time shot from close range on the right of the area to which the FC stopper reacted well to block. However the danger was never fully cleared and seconds later the ball was worked across to Khalsa’s Chloe Handy who had time and space enough to fire a well placed shot from outside the area, against which Ainsworth had no chance, and give her side a 17th minute lead.
Corie Mather was in the thick of things late in the first half. First of all in managing to force the keeper to save a right foot shot despite having been forced wide to evade a defender. The FC no. 7 was then laid low when a defender’s attempted clearance struck her a nasty blow taking the ball in the midriff. Mather played out the half after a stoppage of a few minutes for treatment but was withdrawn at half time as a possible precaution.
In between those two incidents, Ainsworth came smartly off her line to block another close range shot from the opposing striker.
The equalising goal came three minutes into the second half with a ball played forward for Bailey to chase on the left of the Khalsa area. Despite being short of space and at a narrow shooting angle, FC’s no. 10 somehow managed to thread her shot out of reach of the keeper and just inside the far post.
Minutes later, Bailey almost helped FC take the lead with a threatening cross from the right that the keeper grabbed at the second attempt with FC captain Chambers moving in towards the rebound.
Around the midway point of the half, Ainsworth made two more saves as Khalsa introduced fresh legs. The second, through a crowded area, was particularly impressive.
The game seemed to lose a bit of rhythm amid a flurry of substitutions but the visiting keeper was given a chance to impress in the closing minutes, turning aside a fierce shot from Cunliffe from an FC corner.
Report by Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the game: Chloe Ainsworth - among several noteworthy FC United performances on the day but without whose contribution, the result may have resembled a resounding defeat.
Pre-season friendly at Broadhurst Park 3G
Sunday 23rd August 2020: Attendance: 38