FC Women take a point from County clash
FC United Women showed character in coming back from last week's double figure defeat to Newcastle United to take a hard earned but deserved point in a battle against old rivals Stockport County.
The Reds lost out to County for the North West Women's Regional League title in 2019 but twice beat the Hatters in the final of the NWWRL's league challenge cup (The Argyle Cup). Since joining Stockport in the FA Women's Premier League North Division One however, FC have found their opponents a tougher nut to crack.
FC United are well aware of the threat of Jess Battle, both as a former team-mate and troublesome opponent. So it was with some relief that an early through ball towards the former FC and current Stockport no. 9 was smothered by an alert Chloe Ainsworth in goal.
The visitors had their first sight of goal when Kate O’Gara was harshly adjudged to have committed a handball offence close to the home area which looked accidental. However County skipper Kenedy Owen was just wide with a low shot from the free kick. However there was no let off for the Reds after 19 minutes when Bradshaw got away on the left and cut in along the byline. A low cross was then touched back by Battle for Douglas to score.
Douglas came in search of a second goal soon after with a run inside along the edge of the area before firing just over.
FC levelled near the half hour mark when a move that began with a throw in on the right that was played to the feet of Ogdon to play a ball forward into the area from which Lauryn Wood hit an angled shot past the keeper for a goal on her debut.
There was a spell of pressure from the visitors that began with a wayward clearance from Emily Marsh falling to Douglas on the edge of the FC United box but an alert Corie Mather reacted to block the danger. Battle then held off Chelsea Patient in a chase for the ball and managed to get in a low angled shot that Ainsworth tipped away for a corner. And there was little let up as Figueiredo played a ball into Battle whose first shot was blocked by keeper Ainsworth coming off the line and a second shot on the rebound was cleared off the line by Marsh.
So it was somewhat against the run of play that the Reds took the lead on 41 minutes. O’Gara put a free kick into the left side of the area that was nodded across goal by Flanagan and Ashleigh Hayes rose to score with a header over the keeper.
However the response was immediate as Battle raced clear of Marsh to cross from the right and Figueiredo levelled the scores with a well taken volley off the outside of her right boot.
After a somewhat frantic first half, perhaps it was to be expected that both sides would be taking steps to cut down on the number of opportunities allowed to the opposition. The result in the second half was something of a masterclass in chasing and closing down space but, as a consequence, the two sides rather cancelled each other out. Nevertheless Ainsworth had to be on her toes to twice deny Battle early in the half - firstly by positioning herself perfectly to save a shot on the turn and then smothering a ball played over the back line by Bradshaw from Battle’s feet.
Ellie Rigby was introduced into the game after 71 minutes and had an almost immediate impact with a right wing cross that flashed across the goalmouth in need of another red shirt to touch it in.
Soon afterwards a measured pass from Keeley Goodwin put Holly Davenport in on the right side of the area but again the move suffered from a lack of support and Davenport was forced to try a snap shot herself that flew wide of the near post.
A Stockport raid down the right inevitably saw Battle involved again, getting in a shot that was blocked and was blasted wide on the follow up by Bradshaw.
Battle was denied again soon afterwards, this time by Goodwin who, forced to act as makeshift centre-back as a ball was played into the area, whipped the ball from the County striker’s feet.
A late penalty appeal for FC United was turned down by the referee as Flanagan appeared to have been pushed to the ground when attempting to get on the end of a free kick.
Olivia Dixon had been sent on from the Stockport bench late in the half and went close twice in the dying minutes. Firstly with a shot wide to a ball falling to her after Abby Hunt had been forced to make a hasty clearance. Then, taking a ball played inside by Bradshaw on the run down the right, hitting a somewhat ambitious shot on the run that Ainsworth appeared to have well covered.
Report by Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the game: Lauryn Wood
Referee: Chelsea Hodgson Assistants: Lucy MacCabe & Caitlin Morrissey
Stats - courtesy of Paul Hinson (FC United first)
Shots on target: 2-5
Shots off target: 4-11
Free kicks: 7-13
Corners: 1-3
Offsides: 2-1
Yellow Cards: 0-0
Red Cards: 0-0
Passes: 221-312
Possession: 41%-59%
FC Women take a point from County clash
FC United Women showed character in coming back from last week's double figure defeat to Newcastle United to take a hard earned but deserved point in a battle against old rivals Stockport County.
The Reds lost out to County for the North West Women's Regional League title in 2019 but twice beat the Hatters in the final of the NWWRL's league challenge cup (The Argyle Cup). Since joining Stockport in the FA Women's Premier League North Division One however, FC have found their opponents a tougher nut to crack.
FC United are well aware of the threat of Jess Battle, both as a former team-mate and troublesome opponent. So it was with some relief that an early through ball towards the former FC and current Stockport no. 9 was smothered by an alert Chloe Ainsworth in goal.
The visitors had their first sight of goal when Kate O’Gara was harshly adjudged to have committed a handball offence close to the home area which looked accidental. However County skipper Kenedy Owen was just wide with a low shot from the free kick. However there was no let off for the Reds after 19 minutes when Bradshaw got away on the left and cut in along the byline. A low cross was then touched back by Battle for Douglas to score.
Douglas came in search of a second goal soon after with a run inside along the edge of the area before firing just over.
FC levelled near the half hour mark when a move that began with a throw in on the right that was played to the feet of Ogdon to play a ball forward into the area from which Lauryn Wood hit an angled shot past the keeper for a goal on her debut.
There was a spell of pressure from the visitors that began with a wayward clearance from Emily Marsh falling to Douglas on the edge of the FC United box but an alert Corie Mather reacted to block the danger. Battle then held off Chelsea Patient in a chase for the ball and managed to get in a low angled shot that Ainsworth tipped away for a corner. And there was little let up as Figueiredo played a ball into Battle whose first shot was blocked by keeper Ainsworth coming off the line and a second shot on the rebound was cleared off the line by Marsh.
So it was somewhat against the run of play that the Reds took the lead on 41 minutes. O’Gara put a free kick into the left side of the area that was nodded across goal by Flanagan and Ashleigh Hayes rose to score with a header over the keeper.
However the response was immediate as Battle raced clear of Marsh to cross from the right and Figueiredo levelled the scores with a well taken volley off the outside of her right boot.
After a somewhat frantic first half, perhaps it was to be expected that both sides would be taking steps to cut down on the number of opportunities allowed to the opposition. The result in the second half was something of a masterclass in chasing and closing down space but, as a consequence, the two sides rather cancelled each other out. Nevertheless Ainsworth had to be on her toes to twice deny Battle early in the half - firstly by positioning herself perfectly to save a shot on the turn and then smothering a ball played over the back line by Bradshaw from Battle’s feet.
Ellie Rigby was introduced into the game after 71 minutes and had an almost immediate impact with a right wing cross that flashed across the goalmouth in need of another red shirt to touch it in.
Soon afterwards a measured pass from Keeley Goodwin put Holly Davenport in on the right side of the area but again the move suffered from a lack of support and Davenport was forced to try a snap shot herself that flew wide of the near post.
A Stockport raid down the right inevitably saw Battle involved again, getting in a shot that was blocked and was blasted wide on the follow up by Bradshaw.
Battle was denied again soon afterwards, this time by Goodwin who, forced to act as makeshift centre-back as a ball was played into the area, whipped the ball from the County striker’s feet.
A late penalty appeal for FC United was turned down by the referee as Flanagan appeared to have been pushed to the ground when attempting to get on the end of a free kick.
Olivia Dixon had been sent on from the Stockport bench late in the half and went close twice in the dying minutes. Firstly with a shot wide to a ball falling to her after Abby Hunt had been forced to make a hasty clearance. Then, taking a ball played inside by Bradshaw on the run down the right, hitting a somewhat ambitious shot on the run that Ainsworth appeared to have well covered.
Report by Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the game: Lauryn Wood
Referee: Chelsea Hodgson Assistants: Lucy MacCabe & Caitlin Morrissey
Stats - courtesy of Paul Hinson (FC United first)
Shots on target: 2-5
Shots off target: 4-11
Free kicks: 7-13
Corners: 1-3
Offsides: 2-1
Yellow Cards: 0-0
Red Cards: 0-0
Passes: 221-312
Possession: 41%-59%
