Women's team edge closer to title with Easter victory over Beechfield

The banks of the River Irwell, where it flows past Beechfield’s Littleton Road ground, were bathed in warm spring sunshine for the visit of FC United’s women on Easter Sunday. A victory for the Reds would leave them on the verge of the First Division title and they duly obliged, scoring five without reply as captain Kirsty Chambers notched a brace, one either end of the first half sandwiching a close range tap in for Beth Hayes. Leah Hartshorne added a fourth early in the second half and an Aimee Cooke penalty wrapped things up in the last couple of minutes. A healthy attendance of 52 was bolstered by an Easter visit from the Isle of Man Branch who had travelled over to feast on the glut of FC United fixtures this Easter weekend.

FC United got the game underway and within two minutes a fair but robust impact occurred as Feiruz Abdullahi collided with host keeper Dawn Parkes as she bore down on the Beechfield goal. FC’s women settled to their task and inside five minutes after good build up play, Evans in space on the right, tested Parkes who held well at her near post. Moments later however and Beechfield countered strongly as Chloe Williams raced from her goal to clear the danger. Her firm connection slammed straight into a Beechfield player and with Williams stranded the red shirts rallied in defence to finally negate the blue shirted threat.

Chambers surged forward in a counter thrust and uncharacteristically on her right foot, fired a shot goal ward opening the scoring on ten minutes with a wicked deflection off Shauna Smith that wrong footed Parkes as the ball nestled in the bottom corner of her goal. Minutes later and Smith put in a fantastic last ditch tackle on Abdullahi who burst into the area from the left and looked certain to score but for the defender’s well-timed intervention. Goal number two was coming though and from a second successive corner Chambers swung in a dangerous set piece that was curling under the bar where Hayes applied the decisive touch helping the ball across the line to double the lead just past the quarter hour.

The game entered a scrappy period with neither side really creating much until the 25th minute when Beechfield were awarded a free kick wide on their right and swung in a dangerous cross that was only half cleared as a second cross came straight back into the danger zone that Williams was alive to and held well. As the half entered its last ten minutes, Cooke played a good ball down the right wing for Evans who laid the ball back to Hayes to deliver a superb cross to the back post where Chambers acrobatically lashed home a half volley.

Beechfield rallied once again looking for a way back into the contest before half time but the FC defence held firm and Williams, acting as a ‘keeper sweeper’, cleared anything that was played beyond or over the United back line and the 3-0 score line remained intact at the break.

The opening of the second half saw a period of United dominance despite which the Reds struggled to extend the scoreline. Chambers dragged a shot wide of the goal, Hartshorne saw a beautifully shaped shot come back along the goal line off the inside of the far post and Cooke and Abdullahi both went close in the few minutes following the restart.

However, Hartshorne had her reward in front of goal on 54 minutes as Abdullahi surged to the bye line down the right and cut a ball back to the flame haired midfielder who made no mistake firing high into the goal at Parkes’ near post. Amy Battel exchanged passes down the right with Abdullahi who thundered a ferocious drive off the Beechfield bar and after making way for Shellby Wolstencroft on the hour the replacement striker similarly found the frame of the goal with almost her first touch.

As the game wore on Beechfield were in no mood to give up the chase and Danielle Farrand curled in a superb corner that Williams parried at her near post and needed her captain to clear the imminent danger from inside the six yard box. Entering the last five minutes, FC United had once again asserted themselves on proceedings as Wolstencroft was tripped in the area and the referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Cooke stepped up and confidently despatched her penalty under the dive of replacement keeper Shauna Smith to close out a satisfactory afternoon’s work in Salford.

Next Sunday, 12th April, United host second placed Chorltonians who need a victory to keep their title hopes alive but will face a determined FC United who need just a point from their last two games to secure their first title after narrowly missing out in the previous two campaigns. This all adds up to a fantastic climax to the league campaign and FC fans’ much appreciated support could make all the difference at Abraham Moss (M8 5UF) for a 2pm kick off. Get yourself to that game and cheer the women over the line.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the game: Beth Hayes – very assured midfield performance on a difficult surface and also got herself on the score sheet.

Teams 5th April 2015: Attendance: 52

FC United of Manchester Women: 5 (3)
1. Chloe Williams (Goal Keeper)
4. Aimee Cooke (Right Back) (Goal 88 mins [Pen])
17. Jess McCarrick (centre half)
5. Chelsea Patient (centre half)
12. Jess Tonge (left back)
6. Shauna Ward (centre midfield)
7. Beth Hayes (centre midfield) (Goal 16 mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (centre midfield) (Goal 54 mins)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield)(Goals 10 & 36 mins)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward)
Subs:
13. Mary Priestner (GK)
2. Amy Battel (for No 6 46mins)
3. Nicole Worthington (for No 17 72mins)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (for No 14 60 mins)
15. Hannah Dobie (for No18 60mins)

Beechfield United Ladies FC: 0 (0)
21. Dawn Parkes (GK)
26. Shauna Smith
24. Teresa Prendergast
30. Vicky Kerr
22. Emily Walmsley
8. Gemma Ottiwell
9. Debra Wright
4. Rebecca Watkins
10. Sue Howard (Captain)
29. Lauren O’Neill
6. Sophie Wainwright
Subs:
27. Danielle Farrand (for No1 67 mins) (No 26 took over in goal)
28. Sam Smith

Referee: Sam Bernstein
Venue: Salford Sports Village, Littleton Road.