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FC's women reach cup final after 4-0 win at Urmston

In only their tenth competitive match in a weather-ravaged season and their first outing since 19 January, FC’s women, at the third time of asking, got to play their long-awaited County Cup semi final and in difficult conditions, put four past hosts Urmston Meadowside without reply. Two first half goals, both in the sixth minute from Molly Wood then Jade Parker were followed by second half strikes from Shellby Wolstencroft and Lizzie Evans to see FC United into the final of the Manchester FA County Cup where they will meet City of Manchester Ladies at the end of the month.

With the prevailing conditions and downhill slope, United kicked off the semi final with purpose as Parker and Kirsty Chambers combined down the left with the slope finally beating Chambers as the ball rolled behind for a goal kick. Pressing high up the pitch and keeping the ‘Meds’ penned in their own half, FC created at will and Wood was rewarded for chasing down a through ball from Leah Hartshorne which keeper Hayley Weston could only clear against the on rushing Wood with the ball flying back past her and into the goal.

Urmston were quick to restart the game but straight away Lizzie Evans and Parker hunted the ball down, robbed the defence with Evans feeding Parker who fired unerringly past Weston for two goals inside the same sixth minute.

The conditions worsened and football was difficult for both teams and the game became scrappy although it was United who kept pressing for further goals with Hartshorne firing over and Chambers forcing Weston into an excellent parrying save round her post following a strike from the edge of the area on 27 minutes.

Two foul tackles by Parker on the right in quick succession, the second been deemed by referee Owen to be reckless, saw the industrious midfielder dismissed from play on the half hour with Urmston’s Kate Lawson injured, unable to take further part in proceedings.

Urmston enjoyed their best spell of the game in the following 10 minutes as United struggled to adjust to being a player down and on 40 minutes a superb cross by Rachel Parker found the head of unmarked Laura Kelly whose effort thundered off the bar and away from danger. United reasserted themselves and saw the half out with a succession of corners but no further goals.

The wind picked up as Urmston got the second half underway with United making two changes in an attempt to reshuffle their formation following Parker’s dismissal. On came Wolstencroft up front for Wood with attacking full back Jemma Doyle replacing the more conservative Jess Tonge who had made a steady debut for the club.

United settled well and Adora Yau was first to an Urmston clearance on the half way launching Charlie Evans on her way down the right. Evans rode two tackles and jinked her way into the box feeding a square ball to Wolstencroft who took a touch to create space and fired low past the dive of Weston for United’s third on 49 minutes. A flurry of substitutions by both sides with around 20 minutes to go saw FC’s Wood replace Charlie Evans and debutant Tonge returning to the fray in place of Wolstencroft with Wood having two excellent chances from a Chambers corner and a Yau through ball without end product as the game neared its end.

However, the scoring was not over and with two minutes remaining, Yau who had been calm and assured throughout, floated a delightful ball over the defence for Lizzie Evans to control and fire beyond Weston into the bottom corner for a final score of 4-0 to the reds.

As well as regular training, some of the team had been keeping fit representing FC United in the Futsal FA Cup in recent weeks and this certainly helped them finish the game the stronger as attention, weather permitting, now reverts to the league before the cup final comes around in four weeks time.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the game: ADORA YAU, whether in defence or midfield, drew on her experience to give a calm, assured performance; rarely misdirecting a pass in blustery conditions on a difficult surface and providing the assist for FC’s fourth goal.

Teams 2nd March 2014: Attendance: 42

Urmston Meadowside: 0 (0)
1. Hayley Weston
19. Susan O’Sullivan
12. Laura Wrenshaw (captain)
20. Laura Kelly
11. Jade Hesketh
4. Jess Butt
6. Georgia Ashton
25. Bliss Molyneaux
8. Rebecca Gregory
3. Rachel Parker
7. Shannon Moloney

Subs:
16. Jess Hickman
2. Shannon Howarth
25. Kate Lawson

FC United of Manchester Women: 4(2)
1. Mary Priestner (Goalkeeper)
8 Adora Yau (right back)
3. Jess Tonge (left back)
5. Chelsea Patient (centre half)
7. Beth Hayes (centre half)
12. Leah Hartshorne (centre midfield)
9. Jade Parker (centre midfield, goal 6mins, red card 30mins)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield)
15. Lizzie Evans (centre forward and goal 88mins)
6. Molly Wood (centre forward and goal 6mins)

Subs:
4. Jemma Doyle (for 3 46mins)
17. Shellby Wolstencroft (for 6 46mins and goal 49mins)
Roll on Roll off subs:
On No3 for No17 75mins
On No6 for No16 66mins


First Posted ~ 21:17 Sun 2 Mar 2014
News ID ~ 5386
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021