FC's women go out of County Cup after losing to holders

Entering the County Cup at the quarter- final stage, FC’s women’s were drawn at home to the holders, City of Manchester Ladies and unfortunately lost 4-1 on a wintery afternoon in Crumpsall. In a repeat of last season’s final and the quarter final of 2012/13, United were hoping to make it third time lucky and were on the front foot from the outset as Kirsty Chambers gave the Reds the lead inside two minutes. City of Manchester equalised against the run of play through Gem Mutch ten minutes later and the deadlock remained until Rachel Dunlop grabbed the first of her three goals with 12 minutes remaining. As United committed to all-out attack Dunlop exploited the space behind United’s backline to score two in the last three minutes leaving a scoreline that did not accurately reflect the game as a whole.

With City of Manchester Ladies plying their trade two division higher than United, the game was a superb test of where the Reds stand in their bid for promotion to the North West Women’s Regional League and they were more than a match for the visitors for large parts of the game. Inside two minutes Jess Tonge won an important header on half way with the ball breaking to Chambers who raced down the left wing, nut-megged the full back and curled her shot beyond Charlotte Haywood to give United the perfect start much as she did in the final last March.

The visitors responded well and earned a free kick 25 yards from goal which returning keeper Chloe Williams fielded well. Lively striker Feiruz Abdullahi had the first of several chances on nine minutes with Haywood forcing her wide and seeing off the danger. A minute later City of Manchester had their equaliser as pacey winger Gem Mutch cut in from the left and fired past the advancing Williams.

With the visitors in the ascendancy, Siobhan Hilditch had the ball in the net with clinical finish on seventeen minutes only for the effort to be ruled offside and it was FC United who threatened repeatedly during the remainder of the half with several chances falling to Abdullahi and an excellent one to Adora Yau with a combination of excellent keeping and the woodwork preventing the reds from holding a deserved half time lead.

With the contest finely poised and the prospect of penalties looming, the second half was a cagey affair in worsening conditions. As with all close encounters, the outcome of this quarter final hinged on a few key incidents; on 65 minutes the persistence of Abdullahi earned a corner from which Shellby Wolstencroft crafted a superb half volley destined for the top corner from twenty five yards forcing Haywood into a stunning one handed save. Minutes later at the other end Rachel Dunlop got the better of the excellent Williams forcing the ball home from the edge of the area with a scuffed shot to give the visitors the lead.

United went three at the back and came so close to levelling the game as Chambers curled an effort towards the top corner of Haywood’s goal and once again the keeper leapt to turn away the effort with another superb save. United’s keeper Williams was substituted due to injury inside the last five minutes with Mary Priestner taking her place whilst at the other end Chambers had the beating of Haywood but saw her shot cannon off the bar with the clearance over the top beating the back three and falling to Dunlop who finished convincingly beyond Priestner.

United did not stop pressing but in the final minute Dunlop sealed her hat-trick in a copycat finish of her second goal moments earlier after which the referee brought the contest to an end. A great effort from both sides and superb advert for the women’s game in front of 44 hardy supporters and the Reds turn their attention to the League Challenge Cup as they prepare to face AVROs at the Lancaster Club, Broadway next Sunday. Get yourselves to that football ground to cheer the team on.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the game: Feiruz Abdullahi – on another day Feiruz would have been on the scoresheet several times and it is credit to the opposition defence and keeper in particular that denied her all afternoon. Despite this, Feiruz was a constant thorn in their side and never gave up all afternoon. Special mention also to the FC defence and Chloe Williams who, for the vast majority of the game, kept the visitors well marshalled.

Teams 22nd February 2015: Attendance: 44
FC United of Manchester Women: 1 (1)
1. Chloe Williams (Goalkeeper)
2. Amy Battel (right back) (Cautioned 78mins)
17. Jess McCarrick (centre half)
3. Nicole Worthington (centre half)
12. Jess Tonge (left back)
7. Beth Hayes (centre midfield)
6. Shauna Ward (centre midfield) (Cautioned 41mins)
8. Adora Yau (centre midfield)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (captain, left midfield) (goal 2 mins)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward)
Subs:
1. Mary Priestner (GK) (for No1 85mins)
4. Aimee Cooke (for No6, 46mins)
5. Chelsea Patient (for No3 70mins)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (for No7 57mins)
Roll On Roll Off Changes:
No7 on for No12 83mins

City of Manchester Ladies FC: 4 (1)
1. Charlotte Haywood
4. Bev Howarth
5. Claire Young
11. Vicky Lomas
9. Jody Hancock
15. Kim Holt
11. Siobahn Hilditch
3. Michelle Upton
6. Gem Mutch (goal 11 mins)
7. Amy Anning
14. Fay Dunlop
Subs:
8. Chloe Starling (for No4)
10. Rachel Dunlop (for No7 20mins and goals 77, 88 & 90mins)
16. Rach Williams (not used)
No Number: Fay Stamford (not used)
Roll on Roll Off Changes:
No7 for No11 (50mins) (No6 went in goal)
No4 for No12 (75mins)

Venue: Abraham Moss Centre, Crumpsall.