Women's team book Challenge Cup semi-final place with win over AVROs

International Women’s Day 2015 saw FC United’s women’s team defeat AVRO FC Ladies with a comprehensive 13-0 victory to book a Challenge Cup semi final with league rivals Beechfield United. In our first meeting against the ladies from the AVRO Lancaster Club, who currently sit mid table in the division below FC United, the Reds put their previous game’s County Cup defeat firmly behind them on a blustery, sunny afternoon in Crumpsall.

First half goals against the wind, were scored by Charlie Evans, Shellby Wolstencroft and Shauna Ward, supplemented second half by a further four from Wolstencroft, a hatrick from Feiruz Abdullahi, a brace from Beth Hayes and a ferocious drive from captain, Kirsty Chambers scoring in a club record sixth consecutive game.

United got things underway and spent the majority of the first 20 minutes peppering Kirsty Phillips’ goal with Hayes coming closest to breaking the deadlock, striking the post from 25 yards after good work down the right by Evans. Phillips herself made some excellent saves from Chambers and Wolstencroft in particular. AVROs carried some threat themselves in the opening stages but the FC backline and Chloe Williams held them at bay. Following a low shot at goal by the visitors’ Jade McGaughey, Williams collected well and launched the ball up field where Chambers controlled and surged into the area firing an effort from a narrowing angle which Phillips helped against her bar. Evans, alive to the opportunity, slotted home from the rebound at close range at the far post to open the scoring on 19 minutes.

After a good spell of play by AVROs, United picked up possession in midfield and Ward floated a delightful pass over the defence for Wolstencroft to split the centre halves and slot past the advancing Phillips for her first of the afternoon. Just after the half hour Hayes fed the ball wide to Evans who laid it back to Ward to loft in a high, hanging cross-cum shot that caught on the strong wind deceiving all, including Phillips, as it soared into the goal ending the first half scoring.

United started the second half on the front foot making a couple of changes in personnel and formation, going three at the back and adding Abdullahi to the attack alongside Wolstencroft with an almost instant impact. Just three minutes after the restart, following a passage of pinball in the AVROs area, Wolstencroft slammed home her second and FC’s fourth and four minutes later her strike partner Abdullahi, burst beyond the backline to slot home comfortably for her first of the afternoon.

Goals six and seven came on and just after the hour as Hayes retained possession skilfully wide on the right and from by the corner flag, lofted a cross-cum shot goal wards over replacement keeper Abigail Barlow who five minutes earlier had replaced the injured Phillips and instantly saved well at her near post from Chambers. Wolstencroft’s hat-trick came on the heels of Hayes’ goal as she slotted home unopposed from three yards after an excellent cross from Evans.

Abdullahi grabbed her second on 67 minutes after Evans fed her a pass inviting a tremendous half volley which gave Barlow no chance whatsoever. Two minutes later and this time on the left, the Evans-Hayes combination worked again as the latter swept a shot from the angle of the area beyond Barlow and in at the far post prompting another keeper change for the visitors with Jo Pickering taking her stint between the posts.

Wolstencroft bagged her fourth, taking United’s tally into double figures as she took advantage of chaos in the area following a Hayes corner, slotting home from close range. Arguably the goal of the game came with ten minutes to go as Chambers surged down the left entering the area to unleash a fierce drive across Pickering and into the far corner. The final two goals came in the closing stages with Abdullahi latching onto a long clearance to fire home from twelve yards and following an excellent cross from Evans, Wolstencroft headed home from close range at the far post just four minutes from the 90.

The game finished with United pressing to the final whistle without adding further to their impressive haul and attention now switches to the opening fixture in the Division 1 League Cup as we host Reddish North End at Abraham Moss this coming Wednesday. Get yourself to that football ground for a 7.30pm kick off.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the game: Charlie Evans – opened the scoring, provided a wide outlet all game and consistently delivered quality from the right hand side. A special mention to Adora Yau & Beth Hayes for influential midfield performances.

Teams 8 March 2015: Attendance: 46

FC United of Manchester Women: 13 (3)
1. Chloe Williams (Goalkeeper)
2. Amy Battel (right back)
17. Jess McCarrick (centre half)
5. Chelsea Patient (centre half)
4. Aimee Cooke (left back)
7. Beth Hayes (centre midfield) (Goals 60 & 69 mins)
6. Shauna Ward (centre midfield) (Goal 33 mins)
8. Adora Yau (centre midfield)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield) (Goal 19 mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (captain, left midfield) (Goal 80 mins)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward) (Goals 25, 48, 62, 72 & 86 mins)
Subs:
1. Mary Priestner (GK) (for No1 82mins)
3. Nicole Worthington (for No5 67mins)
12. Jess Tonge (for No4 46mins)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (for No2 46mins) (Goals 52, 67 & 84 mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (for No6 81mins)

AVRO FC Ladies: 0 (0)
1. Kirsty Phillips
2. Stacey Byrne
14. Rebecca Fletcher
15. Jo Pickering (replaced No17 in goal, 70 mins)
10. Leigh-Anne Carnell
21. Millie Bradley
3. Nicola Lees
6. Autumn Lucas
5. Jane Mechen
17. Abigail Barlow (replaced an injured No1 in goal, 55mins)
9. Jade McGaughey
Subs:
8. Christine Hughes (for No1 55 mins)
7. Victoria Rhodes (for No21 72mins)
20. Amy Hart (for No9 75 mins)

Referee: Graham Warner
Venue: Abraham Moss Centre, Crumpsall.