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Seven goal thriller as FC's women edge out Curzon Ashton



In a hastily arranged 40 minutes each way friendly held at Crumpsall’s Abraham Moss Centre, FC United’s women’s team edged out a strong Curzon Ashton XI - comprising a blend of 1st and reserve team players - by 4 goals to 3. In the excellent workout for both squads, FC led 4-1 at half time following a Shellby Wolstencroft strike and stunning Kirsty Chambers hatrick and showed real character to hang on for the victory in the face of a second half onslaught by the visitors.

With ten outfield subs available, FC’s first half line up included debutants Mary Priestly - keeper, defender Chelsea Patient and midfielder Keya Janny alongside established players who will hopefully be around for the coming campaign and it was United who were quickest off the mark in a highly competitive ‘friendly’.

Janny started brightly having FC’s first shot inside two minutes before clearing from the edge of her own box just seconds later as FC poured forward resulting in the opening goal with Chambers’ drive proving to hot to handle for Curzon’s custodian, Jess Duke. Inside ten minutes and United had doubled their lead as Wolstencroft out stripped the Curzon backline benefiting from a handy deflection from Duke’s brave dive at her feet before slotting into the empty goal.

The visitors responded with a decent spell of pressure and possession and halved the deficit on 17 minutes as Holly Espie centred superbly from the right for ex Manchester City Reserves Striker Kayleigh Larkin to rise highest and head beyond Priestly from eight yards.

FC went straight back on the attack from the restart and Wolstencroft skilfully turned and shot from the edge of the area finding Duke well positioned to field comfortably. Just before the half hour, excellent work down the right by Jade Parker resulted in her deep cross finding the head of Wolstencroft whose effort was just wide. Within a minute Chambers made the score 3-1 with a ferocious half volley from a tight angle after being released by a superbly lofted Beth Hayes pass.

Another great cross by Parker found Chambers with time and space beyond the far post on 37 minutes but she uncharacteristically skewed her effort well wide. Undaunted, she made amends just a minute later as she fired home her hatrick goal with a 25 yard free kick from a central position following a foul on Parker and giving FC a 4-1 half time lead.

In a bid to give everyone a game and look at several new players, wholesale changes were made at the start of the second half and Curzon were quick to seize their opportunities as the Reds’ backline in particular struggled to adjust to the new line up. After a long spell of pressure Curzon pulled a goal back through the superb Nikki Daniels as she broke through and slotted past the advancing Priestly on 50 minutes. Just seven minutes later and Daniels had reduced the gap to one goal in an almost carbon copy of her previous strike. United were rocking but showed great character to resist the onslaught as a late effort by Curzon cannoned off Priestly’s upright and away from danger. United had the final say with a superb counter attack lead by Lizzie Evans who picked out Chambers arriving at full tilt on the far post and unleashing a fierce shot that Duke saved superbly shortly before referee Andy Johnson brought proceedings to a close after a highly entertaining, full-blooded and beneficial pre-season workout for both squads.

Report by Rob Fullen

Teams 21st August 2013: Attendance: 21

FC United of Manchester Women: 4(4)
1. Mary Priestly (Goalkeeper)
2. Amy Battel (right back)
8. Adora Yau (left back)
5. Fran Davies (centre half and 1st half Captain)
16. Chelsea Patient (centre half)
7. Beth Hayes (centre midfield)
9. Jade Parker (centre midfield)
18. Keya Janny (centre midfield)
10. Beth Tattersall (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (left midfield, 3 goals and 2nd half Captain)
17. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward and 1 goal)

Subs:
3. Andi Bagshaw (for No19 50mins)
4. Gail Pennington (for No2 41mins)
5. Amy Vyas (for No5 Fran Davies 41mins)
6. Tasha Rowe (for No3 62mins)
8. Maya Germain (for No8 Adora Yau 41mins)
12. Charlie Evans (for No10 29mins)
14. Hannah White (for No7 41mins)
15. Lizzie Evans (for No17 41mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (for No16 41mins)
19. Olivia Greenhalgh (for No18 41mins)

Roll on Roll off changes:
Beth Tattersall on for Charlie Evans 65mins
Olivia Greenhalgh on for Leah Hartshorne 58 mins
Fran Davies on for Amy Vyas 73mins
Adora Yau on for Maya Germain 73mins
Amy Battel on for Olivia Greenhalgh 75mins
Keya Janny on for Kirsty Chambers 78mins

Curzon Ashton Ladies XI 3, (1)

No team information available.



First Posted ~ 23:13 Thu 22 Aug 2013
News ID ~ 5032
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021