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Match Report

17th February 2013

Greater Manchester Women's Football League Division 1

Broadhurst Playing Field, Moston Lane, Moston, Manchester, M40 5QD


FC United of Manchester Women

13 - 2

Heyside Angels Ladies FC

 
Attendance: 41

FC United of Manchester Women 13

Heyside Angels Ladies FC 2

Attendance: 41



Match Report
After a County Cup exit last time out at Broadhurst and a late, late postponement at Hough End last week, FC’s women hit their stride on returning to league action beating visitors from Royton, Heyside Angels LFC 13-2. Goals were spread from the first minute to the last as Shellby Wolstencroft fired five, Kirsty Chambers four and Olivia Greenhalgh, Amy Battel, Kayleigh Catterall and Hayley O’Hara each notched one.

Blue skies and bright spring-like sunshine belied a winter chill carried on a strong breeze that persisted throughout the game. Heyside kicked off and immediately broke down the left through the tricky Charlie Evans. The combative full back Battel countered the threat and worked the ball across to the FC left where Chambers sparked a raid forward threading the ball wide to Greenhalgh who carried to the bye line before cutting a cross back into the area. The intelligent run of Wolstencroft across the Angel’s defence was well rewarded by a deft strikers finish at the near post on 55 seconds as she cleverly anticipated the Greenhalgh cut back.

Chambers doubled the lead on eight minutes after a quality through ball from Beth Hayes released her down the left with room to advance on the Heyside goal to beat Beth Robinson at her near post.

United began to dominate proceedings and on the quarter hour a midfield passing combination involving debutant Sophie Cummings, Hayes and Greenhalgh saw the ball through to Amy Vyas who cut inside the defence to fire goal wards from the edge of the area to be denied by a good save from Robinson. The respite for Heyside was short lived as Chambers once more surged down the left, saw off a physical challenge on the edge of the area to be through on goal firing emphatically low and hard across Robinson into the far corner of the net for a 3-0 lead.

Chambers’ skill and persistence down the left was by now almost none stop and on 18 minutes her excellent cross was met first time by Cummings whose glancing effort flashed just wide of the far post. The prolific provider went alone on 24 minutes as Chambers tricked her way in from the left and along the bye line to lift and curl her shot beyond Robinson and in at the far post from a seemingly impossible angle for her hat-trick and United’s fourth of the afternoon.

From the restart, a Heyside attack ran into the solid defensive partnership of Broghan Matthews and Fran Davies with the latter being adjudged to have thwarted the foray illegally. Katie Jones set her sights from a central position 30 yards from Amy Gillingham’s goal and curled her effort superbly out of reach and into the back of the net to provide a glimmer of hope for the visitors. Following their goal, Heyside enjoyed a spell of pressure but it was the Reds who struck next on 31 minutes as Wolstencroft grabbed her second and FC’s fifth with a strong header from six yards following a superb cross from the left courtesy of the Chambers supply line.

Heyside looked for another opening and once again FC provided them an opportunity from a free kick, again 30 yards out but this time just left of centre as Jones once again bested birthday girl Gillingham only to see this effort cannon back off the post. Within a minute, main threat Jones fired goalward again, this time from open play, and Gillingham pulled off a good save to see the ball round the post. It was FC United who had the last say in the first half on 42 minutes as Wolstencroft side footed home at the far post joining Chambers with a hatrick of her own - the ammunition this time coming from the right via a Greenhalgh cross after good work by Hayes.

Heyside’s keeper was suffering with illness and did not appear for the second half and with no substitutes available, their difficult task became even more daunting. FC got the second half underway and spent the first four minutes peppering the Heyside goal as Hayes, Greenhalgh and Wolstencroft tested stand-in keeper Natalie Gregory and on 50 minutes Wolstencroft made it 7-1 after finding Hayes on the right and surging onto the return pass to volley home from seven yards. Just a minute later and Wolstencroft had her fifth (equalling Hayley O’Hara’s five goals in one game record) as Kayleigh Catterall played a delightful ball over the top of the Angel’s defence and into the path of Wolstencroft who skilfully lobbed the on rushing Gregory from 15 yards.

Just past the hour mark, Greenhalgh surged onto a poor clearance by Gregory, rounded a defender and coolly slotted beyond the hapless keeper to give United a 9-1 lead. The tenth followed two minutes later as a Chambers corner was flicked on by Greenhalgh for Catterall to fire into the roof of the net from a yard out at the far post. Twenty minutes left and great work down the right by Battel saw her surge along the bye line to fire in a cross which surprised everyone, not least Battel herself, as it rifled into the back of the net to bring up an 11-1 score line. It was 12-1 just five minutes later as O’Hara crossed from the left for Chambers to pop up unusually on the right, gather the ball, cut inside and fire home for her fourth of a very productive afternoon.

Heyside are to be applauded for never giving up and on 80 minutes earned a penalty as an FC defender was debatably adjudged to have blocked a shot with their arm. Kate Rigby stepped up and fired confidently beyond the dive of Gillingham to double the Angels’ tally.

On 84 minutes, centre half turned centre forward Matthews was unlucky not to break her FC goal scoring duck as Hayes set her up perfectly only for Matthews’ effort to squirm agonisingly beyond the post. O’Hara was endeavouring to get off the 13 goals for the season mark that she has been stuck on since last October and she came close several times in the closing minutes before finally breaking the hoodoo with a lofted finish over the keeper after a good through ball from Catterall in the final minute.

Referee Kevin Moore brought the game to a close and both teams were respectfully applauded from the pitch as FC’s women look ahead to a sterner test against league rivals AFC Oldham at Broadhurst in a week’s time.

Report by Rob Fullen.

Website player of the match: With 4 goals, three assists and a quite superb afternoon of wing play, Kirsty Chambers is this week’s player of the match with the runner-up prize going to Shellby Wolstencroft for her record equalling five-goal haul.

Teams 17 February 2013: Attendance: 41

FC United of Manchester Women: 13 (6)
1. Amy Gillingham (Goalkeeper and Captain)
2. Amy Battel (right back and goal 70mins)
8. Maya Germain (left back)
4. Francesca Davies (centre half)
5. Broghan Matthews (centre half)
19. Olivia Greenhalgh (centre midfield and goal 61mins)
17. Beth Hayes (centre midfield)
16. Amy Vyas (centre midfield)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward and goals 1, 31, 42, 50 & 51mins)
14. Sophie Cummings (Right Midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (left midfield and goals 8,16,24,& 75mins)

Subs:
7. Kayleigh Catterall (for No5, 37mins and goal 63mins)
12. Hayley O’Hara (for No14 29mins and goal 90mins)
5. Broghan Matthews (for No 4 46mins: roll on roll off rule)
14. Sophie Cummings (for No 19 73mins: roll on roll off rule)
19. Olivia Greenhalgh (for No 17 78mins: roll on roll off rule)
17. Beth Hayes (for No 11 83mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (for No 8 87mins)

Heyside Angels: 2 (1)
1. Beth Robinson
15. Ashleigh Beverley
16. Bryony Bolton
4. Lucy Shaylor
5. Kate Rigby (goal 80mins pen)
6. Emma Harte
7. Jessica Bromley
8. Becky Smith
3. Charlie Evans
9. Katie Jones (goal 25mins)
11. Natalie Gregory
Match Report
After a County Cup exit last time out at Broadhurst and a late, late postponement at Hough End last week, FC’s women hit their stride on returning to league action beating visitors from Royton, Heyside Angels LFC 13-2. Goals were spread from the first minute to the last as Shellby Wolstencroft fired five, Kirsty Chambers four and Olivia Greenhalgh, Amy Battel, Kayleigh Catterall and Hayley O’Hara each notched one.

Blue skies and bright spring-like sunshine belied a winter chill carried on a strong breeze that persisted throughout the game. Heyside kicked off and immediately broke down the left through the tricky Charlie Evans. The combative full back Battel countered the threat and worked the ball across to the FC left where Chambers sparked a raid forward threading the ball wide to Greenhalgh who carried to the bye line before cutting a cross back into the area. The intelligent run of Wolstencroft across the Angel’s defence was well rewarded by a deft strikers finish at the near post on 55 seconds as she cleverly anticipated the Greenhalgh cut back.

Chambers doubled the lead on eight minutes after a quality through ball from Beth Hayes released her down the left with room to advance on the Heyside goal to beat Beth Robinson at her near post.

United began to dominate proceedings and on the quarter hour a midfield passing combination involving debutant Sophie Cummings, Hayes and Greenhalgh saw the ball through to Amy Vyas who cut inside the defence to fire goal wards from the edge of the area to be denied by a good save from Robinson. The respite for Heyside was short lived as Chambers once more surged down the left, saw off a physical challenge on the edge of the area to be through on goal firing emphatically low and hard across Robinson into the far corner of the net for a 3-0 lead.

Chambers’ skill and persistence down the left was by now almost none stop and on 18 minutes her excellent cross was met first time by Cummings whose glancing effort flashed just wide of the far post. The prolific provider went alone on 24 minutes as Chambers tricked her way in from the left and along the bye line to lift and curl her shot beyond Robinson and in at the far post from a seemingly impossible angle for her hat-trick and United’s fourth of the afternoon.

From the restart, a Heyside attack ran into the solid defensive partnership of Broghan Matthews and Fran Davies with the latter being adjudged to have thwarted the foray illegally. Katie Jones set her sights from a central position 30 yards from Amy Gillingham’s goal and curled her effort superbly out of reach and into the back of the net to provide a glimmer of hope for the visitors. Following their goal, Heyside enjoyed a spell of pressure but it was the Reds who struck next on 31 minutes as Wolstencroft grabbed her second and FC’s fifth with a strong header from six yards following a superb cross from the left courtesy of the Chambers supply line.

Heyside looked for another opening and once again FC provided them an opportunity from a free kick, again 30 yards out but this time just left of centre as Jones once again bested birthday girl Gillingham only to see this effort cannon back off the post. Within a minute, main threat Jones fired goalward again, this time from open play, and Gillingham pulled off a good save to see the ball round the post. It was FC United who had the last say in the first half on 42 minutes as Wolstencroft side footed home at the far post joining Chambers with a hatrick of her own - the ammunition this time coming from the right via a Greenhalgh cross after good work by Hayes.

Heyside’s keeper was suffering with illness and did not appear for the second half and with no substitutes available, their difficult task became even more daunting. FC got the second half underway and spent the first four minutes peppering the Heyside goal as Hayes, Greenhalgh and Wolstencroft tested stand-in keeper Natalie Gregory and on 50 minutes Wolstencroft made it 7-1 after finding Hayes on the right and surging onto the return pass to volley home from seven yards. Just a minute later and Wolstencroft had her fifth (equalling Hayley O’Hara’s five goals in one game record) as Kayleigh Catterall played a delightful ball over the top of the Angel’s defence and into the path of Wolstencroft who skilfully lobbed the on rushing Gregory from 15 yards.

Just past the hour mark, Greenhalgh surged onto a poor clearance by Gregory, rounded a defender and coolly slotted beyond the hapless keeper to give United a 9-1 lead. The tenth followed two minutes later as a Chambers corner was flicked on by Greenhalgh for Catterall to fire into the roof of the net from a yard out at the far post. Twenty minutes left and great work down the right by Battel saw her surge along the bye line to fire in a cross which surprised everyone, not least Battel herself, as it rifled into the back of the net to bring up an 11-1 score line. It was 12-1 just five minutes later as O’Hara crossed from the left for Chambers to pop up unusually on the right, gather the ball, cut inside and fire home for her fourth of a very productive afternoon.

Heyside are to be applauded for never giving up and on 80 minutes earned a penalty as an FC defender was debatably adjudged to have blocked a shot with their arm. Kate Rigby stepped up and fired confidently beyond the dive of Gillingham to double the Angels’ tally.

On 84 minutes, centre half turned centre forward Matthews was unlucky not to break her FC goal scoring duck as Hayes set her up perfectly only for Matthews’ effort to squirm agonisingly beyond the post. O’Hara was endeavouring to get off the 13 goals for the season mark that she has been stuck on since last October and she came close several times in the closing minutes before finally breaking the hoodoo with a lofted finish over the keeper after a good through ball from Catterall in the final minute.

Referee Kevin Moore brought the game to a close and both teams were respectfully applauded from the pitch as FC’s women look ahead to a sterner test against league rivals AFC Oldham at Broadhurst in a week’s time.

Report by Rob Fullen.

Website player of the match: With 4 goals, three assists and a quite superb afternoon of wing play, Kirsty Chambers is this week’s player of the match with the runner-up prize going to Shellby Wolstencroft for her record equalling five-goal haul.

Teams 17 February 2013: Attendance: 41

FC United of Manchester Women: 13 (6)
1. Amy Gillingham (Goalkeeper and Captain)
2. Amy Battel (right back and goal 70mins)
8. Maya Germain (left back)
4. Francesca Davies (centre half)
5. Broghan Matthews (centre half)
19. Olivia Greenhalgh (centre midfield and goal 61mins)
17. Beth Hayes (centre midfield)
16. Amy Vyas (centre midfield)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward and goals 1, 31, 42, 50 & 51mins)
14. Sophie Cummings (Right Midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (left midfield and goals 8,16,24,& 75mins)

Subs:
7. Kayleigh Catterall (for No5, 37mins and goal 63mins)
12. Hayley O’Hara (for No14 29mins and goal 90mins)
5. Broghan Matthews (for No 4 46mins: roll on roll off rule)
14. Sophie Cummings (for No 19 73mins: roll on roll off rule)
19. Olivia Greenhalgh (for No 17 78mins: roll on roll off rule)
17. Beth Hayes (for No 11 83mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (for No 8 87mins)

Heyside Angels: 2 (1)
1. Beth Robinson
15. Ashleigh Beverley
16. Bryony Bolton
4. Lucy Shaylor
5. Kate Rigby (goal 80mins pen)
6. Emma Harte
7. Jessica Bromley
8. Becky Smith
3. Charlie Evans
9. Katie Jones (goal 25mins)
11. Natalie Gregory

Previous Matches
08/02/2015 17-1W
11/05/2014 A-W
23/03/2014 A-W
24/11/2013 23-1W
28/10/2012 0-11W