FC's Women bag a dozen to give Stockport County blues

Now enjoying the best goal difference in the league, albeit by only 1 goal over the leaders Merseyrail Bootle; FC United’s women put in a thoroughly professional, comprehensive performance to defeat an admittedly under strength Stockport County Blues 12-0 at Broadhurst Park on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

United were 5-0 up in a blistering opening quarter hour with Shellby Wolstencroft bagging a hatrick in eight sizzling minutes and fellow striker Jess Battle a brace. Wolstencroft grabbed her 4th and the game’s 6th before Abbie Carrington made it 7-0 on the stroke of half time. Allisha Marsh scored a second half hatrick, Battle completed hers and Mia Holden scored from the spot.

Stockport County got the game underway and pressed forward in the opening minute with Jess Battle chasing a long FC clearance earning the game’s first corner which was dealt with by the visitor’s defence. Carrington and Wolstencroft had shots saved by Fran Singleton as a second United corner was swung to the far post by Carrington for Wolstencroft to volley home the opener from close range on 5 minutes.

United retook possession almost immediately from the restart and Olivia Greenhalgh curled a fantastic pass through the Stockport defence into the path of Wolstencroft who flicked the ball over the advancing Singleton, rounding the keeper and heading home the bouncing ball from a yard out under pressure for her second in a minute.

Captain Chelsea Patient cleared from the edge of the FC area to Jess Battle on half way. The striker laid the ball into the path of Morgan McWhirter who carried the ball down towards the corner flag finding the supporting Greenhalgh who whipped in a superb cross for Battle to head home brilliantly from 12 yards on 10 minutes.

Battle scored the fourth just two minutes later after a superb move down the left where Chloe Wild flicked the ball into the path of Beth Tattersall who burst into the area, around the keeper but saw her shot cleared off the line with Battle firing home the rebound.
Just a minute later Wolstencroft completed her quick fire hatrick (the joint second fastest in the history of the women’s team with Hayley O’Hara [2012] and incredibly 3 minutes slower than Feiruz Abdullahi’s 5 minute hatrick v Heyside in March 2015) after latching onto a superb through ball from Battle, bearing down on goal and slotting coolly under the advancing Singleton.

After two last ditch tackles from Fran Davies to twice prevent Beth Brookes breaking through on FC’s goal, Stockport’s best spell of the half saw them win a free kick on the edge of the United area curled over the wall by Lucy Milward but caught well beneath her bar by Amy Gillingham.

At the midpoint of the half, Wolstencroft made it four in her personal tally, moving her onto 97 goals in her FC United career, and the 6th of the game benefiting from a good through ball by Jess McCarrick before unleashing her shot beyond the Stockport keeper.

As the half ticked into added time, Carrington delivered a corner to the near post which was inadvertently deflected back to the taker to centre once again. Ensuing chaos in the six yard area saw the ball partially cleared to the edge of the area. On hand was Carrington to shape a lovely shot beyond Singleton for the game’s 7th and final goal of the first half.

Allisha Marsh replaced Tattersall for the start of the second half and on 50 minutes the young winger scored goal number eight after stabbing home from less than a yard at the far post following a superb deep cross from the right by Wild.

Wild hit the bar with a curling 20 yarder with the keeper saving the rebound from Battle and Singleton made several more important saves as the game entered the last 10 minutes with no further additions to the score line.

However, when McWhirter was fouled in the area, referee Steve Darlow pointed to the spot and up stepped substitute Mia Holden to curl her spot kick into the bottom corner beyond the dive of Singleton. Just a minute later and Battle completed her hatrick taking the tally into double figures after good work and delivery from the left by Carrington to find the striker who was able to fire home at the far post.

Shear persistence and determination from Marsh saw her drive into the area, ride two challenges and lift her shot past Singleton at her near post from a tight angle in the 93rd minute. Marsh completed her hatrick in the 98th and final minute of the game latching onto a clipped ball over the top of the defence from Greenhalgh to scuff a shot which deceived Singleton before trickling into the unguarded goal.

A job very well done by FC’s Women who have a tricky mid week match away to Chorltonians next up before playing them again in the reverse fixture here at Broadhurst on Easter Sunday. With games running out why not put the last few fixtures, including two cup finals, in your diary and come and get behind the team. It could make all the difference. Many thanks.
Report by Rob Fullen

FC Player of the game: Abbie Carrington – with the opponents showing little attacking intent, Abbie enjoyed roving freedom that saw her produce several effective crosses and corners from the left and adding her name to the score sheet with a sublime goal in first half stoppage time.

Teams 9th April 2017: Attendance: 82 (2,083 in total for the season so far)

FC United of Manchester Women: 12 (7)
1. Amy Gillingham
2. Fran Davies
5. Chelsea Patient (Capt)
3. Abbie Carrington (Goal 45+2mins)
4. Olivia Greenhalgh
17. Jess McCarrick
20. Morgan McWhirter
10. Beth Tattersall
18. Chloe Wild
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (Goals 5,6,13 & 23mins)
14. Jess Battle (Goals 10, 12 & 83mins)
Subs:
6. Mia Holden (for No17 60mins)(Goal 82min Pen)
8. Adora Yau
16. Leah Dolan (for No20 87mins)
19. Allisha Marsh (for No10 46mins)(Goals 50, 90+1, 90+7mins)

Stockport County Blues: 0 (0)
1. Fran Singleton
2. Leah Ashworth
15. Vicky Brown
4. Emma Armstrong
5. Lauren Digby
6. Jade Malone
7. Lucy Milward
14. Abby Stevenson
12. Imogen Elbourn
10. Megan Armstrong
8. Beth Brookes

Subs:
None available

Referee: Steve Darlow
Asst Referee: Daniel Adelman (Yellow & Orange flag)
Asst Referee: N/K (Yellow Flag)

Historic stats from Neil Boo and match stats courtesy of Paul Hinson from www.liveteamstats.com