PENRITH LADIES 1 FC UNITED of MANCHESTER WOMEN 1
FC United Women endured a mixed afternoon in Sunday’s double-header against Penrith AFC Ladies at Broadhurst Park, picking up four points from a possible six available.
The Reds had comfortably won the first game 6-1, despite going behind in the opening minute, but couldn’t overturn another early deficit in the second game and were held to a 1-1 draw.
The double-header format is designed by the league to alleviate fixture congestion built up by match postponements and good runs in cup competitions. With both games on Broadhurst Park’s 3G, United played their ‘away’ fixture second.
Luke Podmore made five changes to the side that started the day’s opening ’home’ game, with Gemma Jackson, Ellie Russell, Shaunna Jein, Rebecca Foster and Kate O’Gara all in from the start.
This game was now technically an ‘away’ game for FC, with the visitors getting it underway and showing more of the early confidence that got them the lead in the opening game.
On nine minutes, they had the game’s opening goal for the second time of the afternoon, with a clinical finish on the counter-attack.
From then on, United pushed forward in the hope of carrying out a similar comeback to the one seen earlier in the day. However, there was no immediate response on this occasion with another Penrith break creating the closest opening to another goal, after a strike had hit the post.
The Reds continued to grow in the game and created their best move, just after the 20-minute mark. Cara Fields slotted in Kirsty Chambers who was denied by a brave out-rushing save from the visiting ‘keeper.
United may have been unlucky in that passage of play but made the most of the next one. Jess Battle swivelled inside the box to get away from the defender before squeezing her shot past the ‘keeper and into the net.
Having gone into the break level, the day’s final half of football got underway with Laura Garner replacing Olivia Greenhalgh for FC. Aimee O’Keeffe also replaced Kate O’Gara, less than ten minutes into the half.
With the clock ticking down, the Reds pressed urgently for another winner. A diverted Kirsty Chambers cross nearly found Penrith’s net but for the goalkeeper being positioned well to keep it out.
Jess McCarrick continued to cause problems for the visitors, with several driving runs resulting in opportunities around the edge of the box. The first one came courtesy of United’s no.17 herself, with a curled shot being gathered by the goalkeeper, shortly before Laura Garner’s two free-kicks, won by McCarrick in a similar area, couldn’t make the breakthrough late on.
After scoring United’s equaliser, Jess Battle was looking for her second brace of the afternoon, but her low shot trickled just wide of the far post in the closing minutes with the Reds held to a draw in the second game of the afternoon.
FC have an immediate chance to get back to winning ways, with a trip to Manchester Stingers WFC on Wednesday 24 April 2019. The NWWRL Premier Division fixture is a 6.30pm kick-off, with further details to be announced in due course. Stay tuned to our social media platforms (@FCUnitedWomen) for all the details in the coming days.
FCUMW Player of the Day: Cara Fields – The Reds’ midfielder was a standout performer on a mixed afternoon for United. As well as her creative mindset having a role in providing the goals, her leadership and words of motivation from on the pitch continued to spur United forward in search of a late winner in the second game.
GAME 2: Penrith AFC Ladies 1-1 FC United Women
Penrith AFC Ladies: Jones, Alderson, Jackson, English, McCormick, Campbell, Gaulton, Buchanan, Robinson (Goal 9 mins), Hopton, Johnston
Subs: Lawson, Heather Fawkes, Hannah Fawkes
FC United Women: Jackson, Russell, Davies, McCarrick, Jein, Greenhalgh, Foster, Chambers (c), O’Gara, Fields, Battle (Goal 24 mins)
Subs: Ainsworth (GK), Carrington, Loukes (On for Jein 23 mins), Garner (On for Greenhalgh 31 mins), O’Keeffe (On for O’Gara 39 mins)
Venue: Broadhurst Park 3G, Lightbowne Road, Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ
Competition: NWWRL Premier Division
Referee: Megan Shandley
Attendance: 88
Report by Mikey Partington
PENRITH LADIES 1 FC UNITED of MANCHESTER WOMEN 1
FC United Women endured a mixed afternoon in Sunday’s double-header against Penrith AFC Ladies at Broadhurst Park, picking up four points from a possible six available.
The Reds had comfortably won the first game 6-1, despite going behind in the opening minute, but couldn’t overturn another early deficit in the second game and were held to a 1-1 draw.
The double-header format is designed by the league to alleviate fixture congestion built up by match postponements and good runs in cup competitions. With both games on Broadhurst Park’s 3G, United played their ‘away’ fixture second.
Luke Podmore made five changes to the side that started the day’s opening ’home’ game, with Gemma Jackson, Ellie Russell, Shaunna Jein, Rebecca Foster and Kate O’Gara all in from the start.
This game was now technically an ‘away’ game for FC, with the visitors getting it underway and showing more of the early confidence that got them the lead in the opening game.
On nine minutes, they had the game’s opening goal for the second time of the afternoon, with a clinical finish on the counter-attack.
From then on, United pushed forward in the hope of carrying out a similar comeback to the one seen earlier in the day. However, there was no immediate response on this occasion with another Penrith break creating the closest opening to another goal, after a strike had hit the post.
The Reds continued to grow in the game and created their best move, just after the 20-minute mark. Cara Fields slotted in Kirsty Chambers who was denied by a brave out-rushing save from the visiting ‘keeper.
United may have been unlucky in that passage of play but made the most of the next one. Jess Battle swivelled inside the box to get away from the defender before squeezing her shot past the ‘keeper and into the net.
Having gone into the break level, the day’s final half of football got underway with Laura Garner replacing Olivia Greenhalgh for FC. Aimee O’Keeffe also replaced Kate O’Gara, less than ten minutes into the half.
With the clock ticking down, the Reds pressed urgently for another winner. A diverted Kirsty Chambers cross nearly found Penrith’s net but for the goalkeeper being positioned well to keep it out.
Jess McCarrick continued to cause problems for the visitors, with several driving runs resulting in opportunities around the edge of the box. The first one came courtesy of United’s no.17 herself, with a curled shot being gathered by the goalkeeper, shortly before Laura Garner’s two free-kicks, won by McCarrick in a similar area, couldn’t make the breakthrough late on.
After scoring United’s equaliser, Jess Battle was looking for her second brace of the afternoon, but her low shot trickled just wide of the far post in the closing minutes with the Reds held to a draw in the second game of the afternoon.
FC have an immediate chance to get back to winning ways, with a trip to Manchester Stingers WFC on Wednesday 24 April 2019. The NWWRL Premier Division fixture is a 6.30pm kick-off, with further details to be announced in due course. Stay tuned to our social media platforms (@FCUnitedWomen) for all the details in the coming days.
FCUMW Player of the Day: Cara Fields – The Reds’ midfielder was a standout performer on a mixed afternoon for United. As well as her creative mindset having a role in providing the goals, her leadership and words of motivation from on the pitch continued to spur United forward in search of a late winner in the second game.
GAME 2: Penrith AFC Ladies 1-1 FC United Women
Penrith AFC Ladies: Jones, Alderson, Jackson, English, McCormick, Campbell, Gaulton, Buchanan, Robinson (Goal 9 mins), Hopton, Johnston
Subs: Lawson, Heather Fawkes, Hannah Fawkes
FC United Women: Jackson, Russell, Davies, McCarrick, Jein, Greenhalgh, Foster, Chambers (c), O’Gara, Fields, Battle (Goal 24 mins)
Subs: Ainsworth (GK), Carrington, Loukes (On for Jein 23 mins), Garner (On for Greenhalgh 31 mins), O’Keeffe (On for O’Gara 39 mins)
Venue: Broadhurst Park 3G, Lightbowne Road, Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ
Competition: NWWRL Premier Division
Referee: Megan Shandley
Attendance: 88
Report by Mikey Partington
