Match Report
FC United women built on their first home win at National League Division One level by chalking up their first on the road with a spectacular comeback to overturn a 0-2 deficit in the win at Barnsley. Again it was Ella Hartley and captain Kirsty Chambers who shared the goal scoring duties.
FC survived an early scare as Barnsley’s Pierrepont beat the offside trap to get away down the left with team-mate Shaw in support. A low cross saw Donelan forced into a hasty clearance attempt that hit her own crossbar before bouncing to safety. However the visitors weren’t so lucky minutes later as Pierrepont pounced on defensive hesitancy to open the scoring from close range.
FC United found themselves under the cosh for a while. Watson wriggled through the defence to fire a low shot from inside the area but a deflection took the sting off it, allowing Chloe Ainsworth to make a comfortable save.
With chances proving hard to come by, Kate O’Gara tried her luck with a looping shot from distance that Barnsley keeper Clark was relieved to be able to shepherd wide of the post. And the South Yorkshire Reds were soon back on attack with Shaw side-stepping Beth Hayes to get in an angled shot that Ainsworth beat away for a corner. However the FC keeper had no chance minutes later as, not for the first time in the match, her defence was caught napping as a free kick was lofted into the area allowing Watson to score with a close range header on the run.
Probably the first clear cut chance of the game for FC saw Eve Kennerley pounce on a loose ball in midfield and pick out Kirsty Chambers at inside-right. The FC captain nudged the ball inside a defender before powering a low left foot shot wide of the near post.
There was no let-up for Ainsworth though as first she had to stretch upwards to turn a shot from Shaw over for a corner and then found herself confronted by the Barnsley no. 9 again, this time blocking a shot with her foot.
Seconds before the half time whistle, Chambers sent a ball forward that struck a defender but fell into the stride of Hartley who raced through to score low to the right of the keeper and give FC United renewed hope going into the break with now just a one goal deficit.
The home side launched the first attack after the break though with Csomor getting past Donelan on the right to whip over a cross from the by-line that was well taken by Ainsworth.
And eight minutes into the half, FC were level at 2-2. Chambers chased a ball out to the right of the area before turning and whipping in a shot out of the keeper’s reach to find the net just inside the far post.
Barnsley were almost able to re-take the lead when a mis-placed Chloe Wild pass gave away possession and led to a move which ended with Tugby’s looping shot landing on top of the net with Ainsworth scrambling to cover.
Wild, on as a half time replacement for Hayes, soon set about making amends though and almost played in Chambers only for keeper Clark to come out and smother.
Hartley looked about to set off towards goal when she was upended by a challenge from Ashton with several among the travelling FC support questioning, with some justification, whether the free kick alone was sufficient sanction. Hartley though was on the spot when Ashton scuffed an attempted clearance moments later to a ball whipped into the goalmouth from the right and it broke for Hartley to finish from close range giving a much-improved FC United a deserved lead.
With their hosts appearing somewhat shell-shocked at the turn of events, FC started to dominate the game and pushed forward in search of more goals to clinch the win. Chambers went for the element of surprise with a shot from distance from a quickly taken free kick but was just wide with her effort. Wild then raced through to get in a shot that Clark turned away with her foot.
Barnsley sent on fresh legs in the shape of Ellie Miller who, moments after entering the game, just failed to connect with a right wing cross sent flashing across goal by Pierrepont.
Wild was proving to be a catalyst to FC’s revival and went close to clinching the points with a right foot shot on the turn that was saved by Clark for a corner.
And FC United survived a late scare when Shaw found space on the right of the box but, perhaps through haste, didn’t connect properly with a right foot shot that was easily saved by Ainsworth. Shortly afterwards the final whistle signalled a memorable win for FC women that few would have seen coming at least until late in the first half.
FC United women are back in action this coming weekend, Sunday 5th September with a home game against Alnwick Town Ladies. Kick off 2pm at Broadhurst Park.
By Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the Match: Ella Hartley
Match day photography (by Mark Lee): view here
Stats (courtesy of Paul Hinson):
Shots on target: 8-9
Shots off target: 4-5
Free kicks: 12-15
Corners: 7-4
Offsides: 4-3
Yellow Cards: 0-0
Red Cards: 0-0
Passes: 170-239
Possession: 42%-58%
Match Report
FC United women built on their first home win at National League Division One level by chalking up their first on the road with a spectacular comeback to overturn a 0-2 deficit in the win at Barnsley. Again it was Ella Hartley and captain Kirsty Chambers who shared the goal scoring duties.
FC survived an early scare as Barnsley’s Pierrepont beat the offside trap to get away down the left with team-mate Shaw in support. A low cross saw Donelan forced into a hasty clearance attempt that hit her own crossbar before bouncing to safety. However the visitors weren’t so lucky minutes later as Pierrepont pounced on defensive hesitancy to open the scoring from close range.
FC United found themselves under the cosh for a while. Watson wriggled through the defence to fire a low shot from inside the area but a deflection took the sting off it, allowing Chloe Ainsworth to make a comfortable save.
With chances proving hard to come by, Kate O’Gara tried her luck with a looping shot from distance that Barnsley keeper Clark was relieved to be able to shepherd wide of the post. And the South Yorkshire Reds were soon back on attack with Shaw side-stepping Beth Hayes to get in an angled shot that Ainsworth beat away for a corner. However the FC keeper had no chance minutes later as, not for the first time in the match, her defence was caught napping as a free kick was lofted into the area allowing Watson to score with a close range header on the run.
Probably the first clear cut chance of the game for FC saw Eve Kennerley pounce on a loose ball in midfield and pick out Kirsty Chambers at inside-right. The FC captain nudged the ball inside a defender before powering a low left foot shot wide of the near post.
There was no let-up for Ainsworth though as first she had to stretch upwards to turn a shot from Shaw over for a corner and then found herself confronted by the Barnsley no. 9 again, this time blocking a shot with her foot.
Seconds before the half time whistle, Chambers sent a ball forward that struck a defender but fell into the stride of Hartley who raced through to score low to the right of the keeper and give FC United renewed hope going into the break with now just a one goal deficit.
The home side launched the first attack after the break though with Csomor getting past Donelan on the right to whip over a cross from the by-line that was well taken by Ainsworth.
And eight minutes into the half, FC were level at 2-2. Chambers chased a ball out to the right of the area before turning and whipping in a shot out of the keeper’s reach to find the net just inside the far post.
Barnsley were almost able to re-take the lead when a mis-placed Chloe Wild pass gave away possession and led to a move which ended with Tugby’s looping shot landing on top of the net with Ainsworth scrambling to cover.
Wild, on as a half time replacement for Hayes, soon set about making amends though and almost played in Chambers only for keeper Clark to come out and smother.
Hartley looked about to set off towards goal when she was upended by a challenge from Ashton with several among the travelling FC support questioning, with some justification, whether the free kick alone was sufficient sanction. Hartley though was on the spot when Ashton scuffed an attempted clearance moments later to a ball whipped into the goalmouth from the right and it broke for Hartley to finish from close range giving a much-improved FC United a deserved lead.
With their hosts appearing somewhat shell-shocked at the turn of events, FC started to dominate the game and pushed forward in search of more goals to clinch the win. Chambers went for the element of surprise with a shot from distance from a quickly taken free kick but was just wide with her effort. Wild then raced through to get in a shot that Clark turned away with her foot.
Barnsley sent on fresh legs in the shape of Ellie Miller who, moments after entering the game, just failed to connect with a right wing cross sent flashing across goal by Pierrepont.
Wild was proving to be a catalyst to FC’s revival and went close to clinching the points with a right foot shot on the turn that was saved by Clark for a corner.
And FC United survived a late scare when Shaw found space on the right of the box but, perhaps through haste, didn’t connect properly with a right foot shot that was easily saved by Ainsworth. Shortly afterwards the final whistle signalled a memorable win for FC women that few would have seen coming at least until late in the first half.
FC United women are back in action this coming weekend, Sunday 5th September with a home game against Alnwick Town Ladies. Kick off 2pm at Broadhurst Park.
By Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the Match: Ella Hartley
Match day photography (by Mark Lee): view here
Stats (courtesy of Paul Hinson):
Shots on target: 8-9
Shots off target: 4-5
Free kicks: 12-15
Corners: 7-4
Offsides: 4-3
Yellow Cards: 0-0
Red Cards: 0-0
Passes: 170-239
Possession: 42%-58%
