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Match Report

8th December 2019

North West Women's Regional League – Premier Division

Broadhurst Park 3G, 310 Lightbowne Road, Moston, Manchester, M40 0FJ


FC United of Manchester Women

2 - 0

Manchester Stingers WFC

 
Attendance: 59

FC United of Manchester Women 2

Manchester Stingers WFC 0

Attendance: 59



FC UNITED of MANCHESTER WOMEN 2 MANCHESTER STINGERS 0
STING IN THE TAIL AS FC WOMEN CLOSE THE GAP ON LEADERS

Patience was the key for FC women, along with a couple of inspired substitutions, to unlocking a well-organised Manchester Stingers defence with second half strikes from Aimee O’Keeffe and Kirsty Chambers to close the gap on leaders Tranmere to three points with the Reds having four games in hand.

Chloe Ainsworth, making her 45th competitive appearance to set a new record for a goalkeeper in the women’s team, marked the occasion with her 22nd clean sheet (also a record) although it has to be acknowledged that she received superb protection from the defence in front of her.

One blot on the afternoon, sadly, was an injury sustained by Emily Marsh, resulting in her having to leave the field on a stretcher late in the game with what has turned out to be an avulsion fracture of the ankle and severe ligament damage.

Clear chances were hard to come by in the early exchanges with both sides appearing to be well organised defensively. FC’s first real threat on the Stingers’ goal came after Jess McCarrick was brought down for a free kick wide out on the left. Olivia Hooper attempted what appeared to be an ambitious shot-cross that glanced for a corner off the head of Stingers’ Charlotte Walsh.

The visitors looked dangerous moments later as Nicola Armstrong back heeled a pass down the left wing for Georgia Plant to run onto and whip a ball across goal. The ball stayed in play though and was soon flying back towards goal from the opposite flank, striking Fran Davies on the way, but Ainsworth reacted superbly with a left-handed save to turn it behind for a corner.

Armstrong again combined well with Plant with a ball putting the latter in sight of goal only to see the ball whipped off her toes by Chelsea Patient who made ground well to cover.

FC were only able to muster a couple of half chances during what remained of the first half. Kirsty Chambers had something of a frustrating opening to the match but, in pursuit of a long ball from Emily Marsh, was edged out by Victoria Dillon who opted for safety and put the ball behind for a corner. Hooper had another sight of goal for FC and let fly from the edge of the area but Stingers’ keeper Olivia Faye was able to get fully behind the shot for a comfortable save.

Things were similarly cagey for the first quarter hour of the second half until the deadlock was broken on the hour. Kate O’Gara hoisted a ball in from the right to where Aimee O’Keeffe had found space on the far side of the area and was able to take a touch before picking her spot just inside the post to score with a right-footed shot.

The goal gave the Reds new impetus. Chambers swung over a corner from the left that keeper Faye got in a punch to. The ball dropped handily for O’Gara who drove a shot wide. Shortly afterwards, Chambers played a ball in towards Jordon Bailey - making her return as a substitute after missing the previous game through injury - who was shielded off it by a defender, but the ball ran through for Caitlin Clancy to drive a shot into the side-netting.

The lead was doubled when O’Keeffe spotted Chambers for a pass. The FC United captain took the chance first time with a right foot shot across the keeper into the bottom right hand corner of the net, making it 2-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Chambers had a chance to put the result beyond reasonable doubt after getting free on the left and cutting in for a shot but the ball bounced to safety off the knee of Faye who’d come out to cut off the shooting angle.
The Stingers’ keeper was called into action again when O’Keeffe won the ball in the visitors’ half and let fly with a right-footed shot that was well saved.

It was a busy end to the afternoon for Faye who was then faced by Bailey racing through to get in a shot from the right side of the area. Faye failed to hold the first shot but managed to gather the ball before the rebound could be latched onto.

Then Fran Davies came up for a corner, most likely with the intention of using her height but found herself with the opportunity instead to get in a shot on the turn that was straight at the keeper. FC’s last chance to make it three saw an O’Keeffe shot flash across goal from the right after the ball was touched wide to her by Bailey. But FC held on for a hard earned but deserved three points.
There was a sour end to the match when Emily Marsh collapsed in agony after what appeared an innocuous incident and, after lengthy treatment, left the field on a stretcher. The prognosis is that she could be out until sometime in February or March. A blow to both the team and the player, who’s been a vital part of FC’s solid defensive play this season as well as being a frequent threat in attack. Everyone at FC United wishes Emily all the best for a full and speedy recovery.

Report by Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the game: Aimee O’Keeffe - despite only entering the game as a half time substitute, and notwithstanding several hard working displays over the full 90 minutes from others in the FC squad, Aimee’s introduction - allowing her to score the first goal and set up the second - did more than anything to turn a frustrating afternoon in her team’s favour.

Teams 8th December 2019: Attendance: 59

FC United of Manchester Women: 2 (0)
1. Chloe Ainsworth
2. Fran Davies
3. Emily Marsh
18. Olivia Hooper
5. Chelsea Patient
20. Kate O’Gara
17. Jess McCarrick
8. Maxine Smith
9. Kaylea Cunliffe
16. Robyn Hartley
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt) (Goal, 73 minutes)
Subs:
4. Samantha Ball
6. Cara Fields
10. Jordon Bailey (for No16, half time)
15. Aimee O’Keeffe (for No18, half time) (Goal, 60 minutes)
22. Caitlin Clancy (for No9, 63 minutes)

Manchester Stingers: 0 (0)
1. Olivia Faye
2. Nadine Ruddock
3. Sophie Capell
4. Charlotte Walsh
13. Jennifer Ritson
6. Victoria Dillon
7. Georgia Plant
12. Chloe Grundy
9. Aly Hastie
10. Nicola Armstrong
14. Michelle Townsend
Subs:
14. Amber Kerr
15. Kate Ellis (for No14, 73 minutes)
16. Natasha Priestley (for No12, 40 minutes)

Referee: Leon Hurst
Venue: Broadhurst Park 3G
Official FC photography: Mark Lee & Samantha Coates
Film Footage from Neil Boothman
FC United stats first column:
Goals: 2...........0
Shots on target: 8...........1
Shots off target: 11..........4
Corners: 7...........1
Match Stats courtesy of Paul Hinson (liveteamstats.com)
FC UNITED of MANCHESTER WOMEN 2 MANCHESTER STINGERS 0
STING IN THE TAIL AS FC WOMEN CLOSE THE GAP ON LEADERS

Patience was the key for FC women, along with a couple of inspired substitutions, to unlocking a well-organised Manchester Stingers defence with second half strikes from Aimee O’Keeffe and Kirsty Chambers to close the gap on leaders Tranmere to three points with the Reds having four games in hand.

Chloe Ainsworth, making her 45th competitive appearance to set a new record for a goalkeeper in the women’s team, marked the occasion with her 22nd clean sheet (also a record) although it has to be acknowledged that she received superb protection from the defence in front of her.

One blot on the afternoon, sadly, was an injury sustained by Emily Marsh, resulting in her having to leave the field on a stretcher late in the game with what has turned out to be an avulsion fracture of the ankle and severe ligament damage.

Clear chances were hard to come by in the early exchanges with both sides appearing to be well organised defensively. FC’s first real threat on the Stingers’ goal came after Jess McCarrick was brought down for a free kick wide out on the left. Olivia Hooper attempted what appeared to be an ambitious shot-cross that glanced for a corner off the head of Stingers’ Charlotte Walsh.

The visitors looked dangerous moments later as Nicola Armstrong back heeled a pass down the left wing for Georgia Plant to run onto and whip a ball across goal. The ball stayed in play though and was soon flying back towards goal from the opposite flank, striking Fran Davies on the way, but Ainsworth reacted superbly with a left-handed save to turn it behind for a corner.

Armstrong again combined well with Plant with a ball putting the latter in sight of goal only to see the ball whipped off her toes by Chelsea Patient who made ground well to cover.

FC were only able to muster a couple of half chances during what remained of the first half. Kirsty Chambers had something of a frustrating opening to the match but, in pursuit of a long ball from Emily Marsh, was edged out by Victoria Dillon who opted for safety and put the ball behind for a corner. Hooper had another sight of goal for FC and let fly from the edge of the area but Stingers’ keeper Olivia Faye was able to get fully behind the shot for a comfortable save.

Things were similarly cagey for the first quarter hour of the second half until the deadlock was broken on the hour. Kate O’Gara hoisted a ball in from the right to where Aimee O’Keeffe had found space on the far side of the area and was able to take a touch before picking her spot just inside the post to score with a right-footed shot.

The goal gave the Reds new impetus. Chambers swung over a corner from the left that keeper Faye got in a punch to. The ball dropped handily for O’Gara who drove a shot wide. Shortly afterwards, Chambers played a ball in towards Jordon Bailey - making her return as a substitute after missing the previous game through injury - who was shielded off it by a defender, but the ball ran through for Caitlin Clancy to drive a shot into the side-netting.

The lead was doubled when O’Keeffe spotted Chambers for a pass. The FC United captain took the chance first time with a right foot shot across the keeper into the bottom right hand corner of the net, making it 2-0 with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Chambers had a chance to put the result beyond reasonable doubt after getting free on the left and cutting in for a shot but the ball bounced to safety off the knee of Faye who’d come out to cut off the shooting angle.
The Stingers’ keeper was called into action again when O’Keeffe won the ball in the visitors’ half and let fly with a right-footed shot that was well saved.

It was a busy end to the afternoon for Faye who was then faced by Bailey racing through to get in a shot from the right side of the area. Faye failed to hold the first shot but managed to gather the ball before the rebound could be latched onto.

Then Fran Davies came up for a corner, most likely with the intention of using her height but found herself with the opportunity instead to get in a shot on the turn that was straight at the keeper. FC’s last chance to make it three saw an O’Keeffe shot flash across goal from the right after the ball was touched wide to her by Bailey. But FC held on for a hard earned but deserved three points.
There was a sour end to the match when Emily Marsh collapsed in agony after what appeared an innocuous incident and, after lengthy treatment, left the field on a stretcher. The prognosis is that she could be out until sometime in February or March. A blow to both the team and the player, who’s been a vital part of FC’s solid defensive play this season as well as being a frequent threat in attack. Everyone at FC United wishes Emily all the best for a full and speedy recovery.

Report by Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the game: Aimee O’Keeffe - despite only entering the game as a half time substitute, and notwithstanding several hard working displays over the full 90 minutes from others in the FC squad, Aimee’s introduction - allowing her to score the first goal and set up the second - did more than anything to turn a frustrating afternoon in her team’s favour.

Teams 8th December 2019: Attendance: 59

FC United of Manchester Women: 2 (0)
1. Chloe Ainsworth
2. Fran Davies
3. Emily Marsh
18. Olivia Hooper
5. Chelsea Patient
20. Kate O’Gara
17. Jess McCarrick
8. Maxine Smith
9. Kaylea Cunliffe
16. Robyn Hartley
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt) (Goal, 73 minutes)
Subs:
4. Samantha Ball
6. Cara Fields
10. Jordon Bailey (for No16, half time)
15. Aimee O’Keeffe (for No18, half time) (Goal, 60 minutes)
22. Caitlin Clancy (for No9, 63 minutes)

Manchester Stingers: 0 (0)
1. Olivia Faye
2. Nadine Ruddock
3. Sophie Capell
4. Charlotte Walsh
13. Jennifer Ritson
6. Victoria Dillon
7. Georgia Plant
12. Chloe Grundy
9. Aly Hastie
10. Nicola Armstrong
14. Michelle Townsend
Subs:
14. Amber Kerr
15. Kate Ellis (for No14, 73 minutes)
16. Natasha Priestley (for No12, 40 minutes)

Referee: Leon Hurst
Venue: Broadhurst Park 3G
Official FC photography: Mark Lee & Samantha Coates
Film Footage from Neil Boothman
FC United stats first column:
Goals: 2...........0
Shots on target: 8...........1
Shots off target: 11..........4
Corners: 7...........1
Match Stats courtesy of Paul Hinson (liveteamstats.com)

Previous Matches
04/09/2019 4-1W
24/04/2019 1-3W
03/02/2019 3-0W
13/04/2018 2-0W