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FC Women return to winning ways notching 10 without reply



FC United women’s team got back to winning ways in emphatic style with a 10-0 victory over Uppermill Ladies on Sunday afternoon at Broadhurst Park.

Two weeks since their last game, which ended in a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Middleton Athletic, Uppermill Ladies felt the backlash on a blustery Broadhurst afternoon.

Uppermill were our first competitive opponents in last season’s opening fixture and left empty handed on the end of a 10-0 defeat; the feat being repeated on this occasion. First half strikes came from Kaya Janny and a brace from Shellby Wolstencroft to make it 3-0 at the break before a blistering second half display of goal scoring prowess saw seven more goals. Charlie Evans collect two, there were single strikes from Kirsty Chambers, Gail Pennington, Adora Yau, a collector’s item from Fran Davies and a superb last minute strike by Lizzie Evans rounded off an excellent afternoon’s work.

New signing Demi Sommerville became United’s fourth keeper in five games and handled the occasion superbly in tricky conditions. The team were without the services of Beth Tattersall, serving a one match suspension but keeping fit and flying the flag for the squad down in Chorlton Water Meadows along with team mate Leah Hartshorne and Manchester United under-15s keeper (and FC United’s net putter-upper) Emily Ramsey in the 2013 Minithon.

Amy Battel’s three game suspension also began and Aimee Cooke and Charlie Evans came into the right side of the team to good effect as United lined up 4-3-3 to take the game to their opponents from the off.

United’s attacking intent was clear from the start as Wolstencroft almost profited three times in the opening few minutes on a boggy surface with long grass slowing up progress down either flank and a blustery breeze in their faces. However, the pressure finally told and on seven minutes when Janny despatched a low drive from the edge of the area which arrowed to Jo Curran’s right in the Uppermill goal. The goal came after a Chambers cross had been fired back in by Charlie Evans at the far post deflecting out to Janny, who struck unerringly.

Uppermill were holding their shape well making it difficult for the Reds and indeed had a chance of their own on eight minutes from a free-kick resulting in a corner, which ultimately came to nothing for the visitors. On 22 minutes, FC doubled their lead after Charlie Evans centred a superb cross from the right which floated over Curran for Wolstencroft to tap home at the far post from a yard out.

Uppermill, searching for a way back in to the game, almost found a way through on 25 minutes as Helen Clayton broke down the right and fired a half volley from a reducing angle that Sommerville parried well round the post.

The Reds struck again just after the half hour as Jade Parker lofted the ball over the top of the Uppermill defence where Wolstencroft came through a strong challenge to slot the ball past the advancing Curran from 15 yards for her second and FC’s third of the afternoon. The long grass and patches of mud tugged at the ball all the way to the goal line but there was just enough on the shot to leave FC leading by three goals at the half time break.

United had their eye on goal difference and playing with the conditions second half they rattled in a further seven goals and saw Curran make three outstanding saves whilst thudding three further efforts off the cross bar in a 45 minute spell of absolute domination.

Just three minutes after the restart, United were stringing passes together and working the Uppermill defence resulting in superb persistence from Chambers down the left flank finding Parker who threaded the ball into Lizzie Evans inside the area, who in turn fed her namesake a square ball allowing Charlie to fire home from eight yards with the outside of her right boot.

Maintaining their impetus, United forced another corner which Chambers flung into a crowded area where Pennington rose highest to head home United’s fifth on 51 minutes. Within minutes Chambers was taking her third corner in quick succession but this time bypassed her colleagues and the Uppermill defence as her set-piece flew uninterrupted into the net at the far post for the Reds’ sixth goal on 57 minutes.

Charlie Evans bagged her second of the afternoon just after the hour but owed it all to the excellent driving approach play by Parker who cut in purposefully from the left, rode three challenges, skipped round the keeper and fired low across the goal from an acute angle where Evans was on hand to ensure the effort crossed the line at the far post.

Maintaining their head of steam, FC won another corner floated over by Chambers, controlled brilliantly at the back post by Parker who turned and volleyed forcing an equally brilliant save from Curran at her near post; the parried ball bounced in front of Fran Davies who saw her shot smothered by Curran to earn Uppermill a brief respite. Brief indeed as United rampaged forward once more with Chambers firing against the bar resulting in an intense goal mouth scramble where Adora Yau, recently entering the fray from the bench, stabbed home FC’s eighth on 70 minutes.

United looked purposeful in every attack and twice more struck the bar through Parker and Lizzie Evans before Fran Davies (shortly to be leaving these shores to become a Dubai based air hostess) deservedly collected her token goal of the season in the closing minutes bumbling in a Chambers corner off her thigh and into the goal to her absolute relief and delight.

The drama wasn’t done just yet and on 90 minutes Lizzie Evans picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, following FC’s ninth corner of the afternoon and half volleyed her effort with unerring accuracy beyond the despairing dive of Curran and into the top corner to round off a 10 goal haul and get the Red’s title challenge well on truly back on track.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the game: Charlie Evans, superb on the right wing, good quality deliveries and two goals in her first full 90 minutes for the club.

Teams 20th October 2013: Attendance: 46

FC United of Manchester Women: 10(3)
1. Demi Sommerville (goalkeeper)
14. Aimee Cooke (right back)
4. Gail Pennington (left back and goal 51mins)
5. Fran Davies (centre half and goal 83mins )
3. Chelsea Patient (centre half)
9. Jade Parker (centre midfield)
12. Kaya Janny (centre midfield and goal 7mins)
7. Beth Hayes (centre midfield)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield and goals 48 & 62mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (left midfield, Captain and goal 57mins)
17. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward and goals 22 & 33mins)

Subs:
6. Andi Bagshaw (for No14 73mins)
8. Adora Yau (for No12 64mins and goal 70mins)
15. Lizzie Evans (for No17 36mins and goal 90mins)
18. Hannah White (for No7 70mins)

Uppermill Ladies: 0 (0)
1. Jo Curran
4. Claire Fielding
5. Holly Johnson
15. Gemma Adderley
14. Rebecca Radcliffe
7. Ash Jackson
12. Rachel Cummins
6. Kim Buckley
9. Caroline Pinches (Captain)
8. Michelle Hewitt
11. Helen Clayton

Subs:
16. Nat Radcliffe (for No12 50mins)
2. Rio Simic (for No11 50mins)
3. Rebecca Boote (for No14 36mins)
Roll on Roll Off Changes:
Off No5 on No14 67mins
Off No3 on No5 73mins
Off No4 on No12 81mins

Stats courtesy of Paul Hinson and Aiden Montgomery: liveteamstats.com
FC United: Shots on target 20, off target 11, corners 9, possession 63% and pass completion 60%
Uppermill: Shots on target 2, off target 2, corners 3, possession 37% and pass completion 49%


First Posted ~ 13:54 Mon 21 Oct 2013
News ID ~ 5148
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021