A Baker's Dozen sees United's Women back on top of the league

With Broadhurst Park seeing its first ever fixture fall foul of the weather on Saturday it was up to the women’s team to provide the Red’s weekend football fix with the frost causing no such problems on the 3G . The Women delivered in true style giving Interim Manager Jay Astley and his team their 4th straight victory under his charge averaging 8 goals a game and conceding just 1 in total; heading back to the top of the league in the process. The result marks the most successful run of results this season, maintaining valuable momentum going into the next two home games against significant title rivals from Merseyside.

Sunday’s visit by Liverpool City Community Ladies FC saw the red’s in devastating form resulting in a 13-0 victory in front of a musically vocal 66 supporters. A goal each for Adora Yau and Chloe Wild, a brace each for Olivia Greenhalgh and Beth Tattersall, a captain’s hatrick from Kirsty Chambers and a haul of four for Jade Parker (who spent the last half hour in goal) tells only part of the story as the reds recorded their largest margin of victory since promotion to the Northwest Women’s Regional League in 2015.

In a breathless first minute, Liverpool, in their all purple strip, got the game underway but were rapidly dispossessed with Jade Parker almost opening the scoring inside 20 seconds; earning and taking a corner attacked by Amy Vyas whose header clattered off the bar and behind.

Covering in goal for the injured Chloe Williams, Shellby Wolstencroft played the ball out to Jess McCarrick; the full back working a pass into Olivia Greenhalgh who swept a cross-field ball into the path of Kirsty Chambers resulting in a shot just wide of Jess Lomax’s goal.

United finally profited from their second corner which Parker delivered beyond the back post and Fran Davies retrieved the situation as she squared back inside to Tattersall on the edge of the area. Space opened up for the winger and she fired on target with the power of the shot taking it through the keeper to open the scoring. Parker hit the post a minute later with the ball being cleared as Tattersall was poised to pounce.

However, the lead was doubled just before the quarter hour as Vyas slid a pass through to Tattersall who placed her pass into the path of Chambers for the Captain to drive a low shot across Lomax and into the bottom corner.

Beginning just before the half hour, United fired a four goal salvo in just 7 minutes; Chambers found the bottom corner again on 28 minutes. From the restart just a minute later, Parker raced through on goal and as Lomax left her line the striker deftly clipped the ball beyond her for goal number four. Two minutes later and Parker bagged her second of the afternoon cutting in from the left and with Tattersall providing a decoy causing indecision for the keeper, Parker carried the ball into the 6 yard area passing the ball in at the near post. Liverpool rallied well and launched an attack of their own with Emma Morgan bursting into United’s area with Wolstencroft gathering well and launching the reds forward once more and within 10 seconds Greenhalgh had the ball in Liverpool’s net after a calm finish.

With the half nearing its conclusion, Chambers completed her hatrick latching onto another searching pass from Vyas down the middle and slotting her shot past Lomax. Stoppage time at the end of the half saw Parker complete her hatrick. Chambers floated a corner to the far post and Davies saw her second headed attempt of the half cleared off the line only as far as Parker who juggled the ball with three mid air touches evading the defenders before lofting her shot over Lomax and in at the far post.

From the restart United attacked with purpose with Vyas to Parker to Chambers who earned a corner that resulted in a Tattersall shot well held by Lomax. Just three minutes into the second period Greenhalgh had her brace as Vyas found the feet of Mia Holden in the ‘D’ releasing Parker on the right and her driven cross was well managed into the goal by the number 4. Parker made it 10 for the afternoon bagging her fourth on 52 minutes latching onto a Holden ball over the top finishing with aplomb with an unstoppable effort.

A good tackle by Abbie Carrington released Vyas who slid a superb pass into the path of Tattersall who fired her second as Lomax raced from her line. Both teams made a change of keepers with Parker replacing Wolstencroft for the last half an hour whilst Lomax was replaced by Elayne Kean in Liverpool’s goal. United also introduced Adora Yau and Chloe Wild and it was this pair who scored the game’s final two goals.

Wolstencroft released Greenhalgh down the left and the midfielder crossed low into a congested penalty area. Yau controlled well, turned on a sixpence and fired into the bottom corner of Liverpool’s goal from 12 yards.

Good interchange between McCarrick and Davies playing the ball forward to Vyas who released Wild on the right. The pacey winger took the ball into the area and fired over the keeper into the roof of the net on 73 minutes.

United created several more chances in the time that remained with Emma Morgan and Inayah Robinson having half chances for the visitors but no further goals were added and referee Steve Darlow bought proceedings to a close under the flood lights.

The level of Merseyside opposition ramps up for the next two home games as United welcome Liverpool Marshalls Feds Reserves next weekend and on 11th December Merseyrail Bootle for a vital six pointer. Get yourselves to our football ground.

Report by Rob Fullen
FC Player of the game: Amy Vyas – In front of goal Kirsty Chambers and Jade Parker were particularly deadly, the defence rock solid and the midfield knitting everything together with one midfielder in particular, Amy Vyas, pulling many of the strings displaying a vision and range of passing unparalleled on a record setting afternoon.

Teams 27th November 2016: Attendance: 66

FC United of Manchester Women: 13 (8)
1. Shellby Wolstencroft (Swapped with No15 56 mins)
17. Jess McCarrick
2. Fran Davies
14. Leah Dolan
3. Abbie Carrington
6. Mia Holden
4. Olivia Greenhalgh (Goals 35 & 48 mins)
12. Amy Vyas
10. Beth Tattersall (Goals 8 & 55 mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt) (Goals 14, 28 & 42 mins)
15. Jade Parker (Goals 29, 31, 45+3 & 52 mins) (Swapped with No1 56 mins)
Subs:
8. Adora Yau (for No6 56 mins & Goal 70 mins)
16. Morgan McWhirter (for No 14 63 mins)
18. Chloe Wild (for No 10 56 mins & Goal 73 mins)
19. Allisha Marsh
20. Danielle Xenophontus

Liverpool City Ladies Community FC: 0 (0)
1. Jess Lomax
2. Fran McCarthy
3. Rachel Parry
4. Ann-Marie Wild
5. Emma Morgan
16. Michelle Lee
7. Melissa Von–Burgen
15. Elayne Kean (went in goal on 56 mins)
6. Sarah Barr
10. Antonia Goudie
11. Inayah Robinson
Subs:
17. Hayley Doran (for No1 56mins)

Referee: Steve Darlow
Asst Referee: Gary Kennedy (Yellow Flag)
Asst Referee: Daniel Adelman (Yellow & Orange Flag)
Venue: Broadhurst Park, Lightbowne Road, Moston, Manchester M40