Match Report
Sunday 28th February 2016 bore witness to, arguably, the strongest team performance by FC United’s women in their four season existence as they breezed past old foes Middleton Athletic by a stunning 6-1 margin at Hopwood Hall College. The victory sets up a ‘must see’ County Cup Semi Final tie with City of Manchester Ladies at Broadhurst Park on 20th March.
In the first meeting between the sides since the abandoned cup final in May 2014 when Beth Tattersall suffered a broken leg, first half goals from Shellby Wolstencroft, Kirsty Chambers and Olivia Gannon with a disputed reply from Belinda Carter saw the Reds take a 3-1 lead into the break. Following the restart, a second for Gannon and two more for Wolstencroft, to complete her hatrick, sealed the fantastic result.
FC United got the game underway and, as expected, the accomplished Middleton side, who ply their trade in the northern equivalent of FC’s division, began on the front foot and looked to press high up the pitch leaving opportunities for United to catch them on the break. The plan almost came to fruition on five minutes as Gannon played a superb through ball to Wolstencroft who narrowly lost out in a chase with Jacqueline Smith in the home goal.
However, just a minute later Wolstencroft timed her run to perfection latching onto a superb ball from Chambers and, as Smith, aware of the pending peril, raced from her line, Wolstencroft cheekily lofted the ball over the advancing keeper from eighteen yards to open the scoring; sparking jubilant celebrations on and off the pitch.
The goal appeared to relax the reds, resulting in a real fluidity and cohesion to their play rarely seen before, from then until full time. Middleton were by no means going to sit back and, just a minute after the opening strike, tried a copy cat move that saw Joanne O’Connell’s attempt at goal well handled by FC’s custodian Chloe Williams.
A spell of excellent possession football across midfield led to an incisive foray down the left as Jess McCarrick played the ball into the full tilt stride of her captain and Chambers fired just over with the keeper well beaten. Moments later, McCarrick sprayed the ball from left to right for Beth Hayes to float a cross onto the head of Gannon whose effort dropped just wide from eight yards.
A second was on the cards and, in the twentieth minute, a rapid break through midfield saw the creative Beth Scholey slide a pass through to Wolstencroft whose snap shot was well parried by Smith and Gannon’s follow up was blocked by a defender. However, Chambers reacted fastest to the loose ball and blasted home to double the lead.
Middleton redoubled their efforts and from a second successive corner Jess Bamber flicked the ball from front to back post and Carter, who was somehow not adjudged off side, bundled the ball over the line from a yard out on 23 minutes. United weathered the home side’s attempts to draw level and, just past the half hour, Adora Yau played a great pass into the tricky feet of Wolstencroft who instinctively back heeled the ball into the path of Gannon on the edge of the area. The striker angled her low shot accurately across the keeper and in at the far post to restore the reds’ two goal cushion.
With Leah Hartshorne playing a fantastic disciplined role in anchoring the midfield alongside Scholey, United controlled the rest of the half without finding the net again. Despite the red domination, Middleton had the final chance of the half as Shevaughn Hurndall crafted a 30 yard free kick over the wall and keeper but just over the angle of bar and upright as referee Alex Kelly signalled for the break.
United, full of purpose and endeavour, were straight on the attack at the start of the second half as Wolstencroft forced a corner from which a combination of Scholey and Hartshorne almost fashioned an opening. Middleton, as expected, were looking for a way back into the tie and a good effort from Bamber forced Williams into a fine save.
Just past the hour, Scholey sprayed the ball wide right to Yau who, in a rare piece of wing play by the diminutive midfielder, beat her defender and from the edge of the area slid a superb cross along the six yard line for Wolstencroft to smash home her second of the game and FC’s fourth of a pleasurable afternoon.
Just two minutes later and the game was put firmly out of Middleton’s reach as a cultured cross from Hayes found Gannon arriving at the far post and the striker controlled a lovely side foot volley into the roof of the net. On her birthday, Charlie Evans almost profited from a high ball into the area but Smith just managed to reach the ball a fraction before the FC winger.
With just three minutes to go Scholey once again fashioned an opening for the tireless Wolstencroft who timed her run behind the defence and jinked her effort over the advancing Smith to confirm her hatrick and United’s 6th. Scholey earned and took a free kick in the final seconds and was unlucky not to score herself after being so influential on the game’s outcome all afternoon. The victory sealed a 100% record in the group stages of this year’s competition and cemented United’s semi-final place.
Coach Jason Astley fittingly saw his tactics in all areas of the pitch come to superb fruition. This has since proved only fitting - he has been offered a superb opportunity to coach in China for three months. He goes next week after one last game on the touch line, this coming weekend away to Liverpool City Ladies Community FC. Get yourself to that football ground as the women look to push towards the top of the league and give Jay a great send off on his travels. From manager Lee Sutton, all the squad and regular supporters we wish Jay all the very best in China and look forward to welcoming him back for pre season.
Report by Rob Fullen
FC Player of the game: Beth Scholey – In a game where all in the starting line up and coming from the bench more than played their part, a superb all round performance from the skilful, creative midfielder saw Beth Scholey provide two assists and several valuable interceptions along with her midfield partner Leah Hartshorne.
Teams 28th February 2016: Attendance: 58
FC United of Manchester Women: 6 (3)
1. Chloe Williams
8. Adora Yau
5. Chelsea Patient
2. Fran Davies
17. Jess McCarrick
18. Leah Hartshorne
20. Beth Scholey
7. Beth Hayes
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain) (Goal 20mins)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (Goals 6, 62 & 87mins)
19. Olivia Gannon (Goals 31 & 64mins)
Subs:
3. Hannah Dobie (for No18 on 60mins)
12. Jess Tonge (for No5 on 69mins)
14. Milly Day (for No19 on 80mins)
16. Charlie Evans (for No11 on 46mins)
13. Mary Priestner (GK – not used)
Middleton Athletic FC: 1 (1)
1. Jacqueline Smith
18. Jess Bamber
9. Shevaughn Hurndall
11. Megan Norton
15. Emma Thetford
4. Jess Wynne
2. Shauna Hurndall
8. Chantelle Henshall
6. Joanne O’Connell
10. Belinda Carter (Goal 23mins)
5. Rachel Jefferson
Subs:
3. Cassie Tairaj
14. Karen Wilkinson (for No18 on 75mins)
12. Paris Welsh (for No11 on 58mins)
Referee: Alex Kelly
Assistant: Michael Hart (Orange & Yellow Flag)
Assistant: Jacob Davies (Yellow Flag)
Venue: Hopwood Hall College, Middleton Campus
Match Report
Sunday 28th February 2016 bore witness to, arguably, the strongest team performance by FC United’s women in their four season existence as they breezed past old foes Middleton Athletic by a stunning 6-1 margin at Hopwood Hall College. The victory sets up a ‘must see’ County Cup Semi Final tie with City of Manchester Ladies at Broadhurst Park on 20th March.
In the first meeting between the sides since the abandoned cup final in May 2014 when Beth Tattersall suffered a broken leg, first half goals from Shellby Wolstencroft, Kirsty Chambers and Olivia Gannon with a disputed reply from Belinda Carter saw the Reds take a 3-1 lead into the break. Following the restart, a second for Gannon and two more for Wolstencroft, to complete her hatrick, sealed the fantastic result.
FC United got the game underway and, as expected, the accomplished Middleton side, who ply their trade in the northern equivalent of FC’s division, began on the front foot and looked to press high up the pitch leaving opportunities for United to catch them on the break. The plan almost came to fruition on five minutes as Gannon played a superb through ball to Wolstencroft who narrowly lost out in a chase with Jacqueline Smith in the home goal.
However, just a minute later Wolstencroft timed her run to perfection latching onto a superb ball from Chambers and, as Smith, aware of the pending peril, raced from her line, Wolstencroft cheekily lofted the ball over the advancing keeper from eighteen yards to open the scoring; sparking jubilant celebrations on and off the pitch.
The goal appeared to relax the reds, resulting in a real fluidity and cohesion to their play rarely seen before, from then until full time. Middleton were by no means going to sit back and, just a minute after the opening strike, tried a copy cat move that saw Joanne O’Connell’s attempt at goal well handled by FC’s custodian Chloe Williams.
A spell of excellent possession football across midfield led to an incisive foray down the left as Jess McCarrick played the ball into the full tilt stride of her captain and Chambers fired just over with the keeper well beaten. Moments later, McCarrick sprayed the ball from left to right for Beth Hayes to float a cross onto the head of Gannon whose effort dropped just wide from eight yards.
A second was on the cards and, in the twentieth minute, a rapid break through midfield saw the creative Beth Scholey slide a pass through to Wolstencroft whose snap shot was well parried by Smith and Gannon’s follow up was blocked by a defender. However, Chambers reacted fastest to the loose ball and blasted home to double the lead.
Middleton redoubled their efforts and from a second successive corner Jess Bamber flicked the ball from front to back post and Carter, who was somehow not adjudged off side, bundled the ball over the line from a yard out on 23 minutes. United weathered the home side’s attempts to draw level and, just past the half hour, Adora Yau played a great pass into the tricky feet of Wolstencroft who instinctively back heeled the ball into the path of Gannon on the edge of the area. The striker angled her low shot accurately across the keeper and in at the far post to restore the reds’ two goal cushion.
With Leah Hartshorne playing a fantastic disciplined role in anchoring the midfield alongside Scholey, United controlled the rest of the half without finding the net again. Despite the red domination, Middleton had the final chance of the half as Shevaughn Hurndall crafted a 30 yard free kick over the wall and keeper but just over the angle of bar and upright as referee Alex Kelly signalled for the break.
United, full of purpose and endeavour, were straight on the attack at the start of the second half as Wolstencroft forced a corner from which a combination of Scholey and Hartshorne almost fashioned an opening. Middleton, as expected, were looking for a way back into the tie and a good effort from Bamber forced Williams into a fine save.
Just past the hour, Scholey sprayed the ball wide right to Yau who, in a rare piece of wing play by the diminutive midfielder, beat her defender and from the edge of the area slid a superb cross along the six yard line for Wolstencroft to smash home her second of the game and FC’s fourth of a pleasurable afternoon.
Just two minutes later and the game was put firmly out of Middleton’s reach as a cultured cross from Hayes found Gannon arriving at the far post and the striker controlled a lovely side foot volley into the roof of the net. On her birthday, Charlie Evans almost profited from a high ball into the area but Smith just managed to reach the ball a fraction before the FC winger.
With just three minutes to go Scholey once again fashioned an opening for the tireless Wolstencroft who timed her run behind the defence and jinked her effort over the advancing Smith to confirm her hatrick and United’s 6th. Scholey earned and took a free kick in the final seconds and was unlucky not to score herself after being so influential on the game’s outcome all afternoon. The victory sealed a 100% record in the group stages of this year’s competition and cemented United’s semi-final place.
Coach Jason Astley fittingly saw his tactics in all areas of the pitch come to superb fruition. This has since proved only fitting - he has been offered a superb opportunity to coach in China for three months. He goes next week after one last game on the touch line, this coming weekend away to Liverpool City Ladies Community FC. Get yourself to that football ground as the women look to push towards the top of the league and give Jay a great send off on his travels. From manager Lee Sutton, all the squad and regular supporters we wish Jay all the very best in China and look forward to welcoming him back for pre season.
Report by Rob Fullen
FC Player of the game: Beth Scholey – In a game where all in the starting line up and coming from the bench more than played their part, a superb all round performance from the skilful, creative midfielder saw Beth Scholey provide two assists and several valuable interceptions along with her midfield partner Leah Hartshorne.
Teams 28th February 2016: Attendance: 58
FC United of Manchester Women: 6 (3)
1. Chloe Williams
8. Adora Yau
5. Chelsea Patient
2. Fran Davies
17. Jess McCarrick
18. Leah Hartshorne
20. Beth Scholey
7. Beth Hayes
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain) (Goal 20mins)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (Goals 6, 62 & 87mins)
19. Olivia Gannon (Goals 31 & 64mins)
Subs:
3. Hannah Dobie (for No18 on 60mins)
12. Jess Tonge (for No5 on 69mins)
14. Milly Day (for No19 on 80mins)
16. Charlie Evans (for No11 on 46mins)
13. Mary Priestner (GK – not used)
Middleton Athletic FC: 1 (1)
1. Jacqueline Smith
18. Jess Bamber
9. Shevaughn Hurndall
11. Megan Norton
15. Emma Thetford
4. Jess Wynne
2. Shauna Hurndall
8. Chantelle Henshall
6. Joanne O’Connell
10. Belinda Carter (Goal 23mins)
5. Rachel Jefferson
Subs:
3. Cassie Tairaj
14. Karen Wilkinson (for No18 on 75mins)
12. Paris Welsh (for No11 on 58mins)
Referee: Alex Kelly
Assistant: Michael Hart (Orange & Yellow Flag)
Assistant: Jacob Davies (Yellow Flag)
Venue: Hopwood Hall College, Middleton Campus
