FC UNITED of MANCHESTER WOMEN 3 WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON WOMEN 1
FC WOMEN CHALK UP MILESTONES IN WIN OVER WESTS
Second half goals from Olivia Hooper, Kirsty Chambers and Jess Battle saw FC United women’s first home league game of 2019/20 produce a 100th league win, with Jess’s late strike being FC’s 400th home league goal.
It has to be said though that this was an FC United side that appeared somewhat off key at times with an unusual number of passes going astray and scoring chances spurned. However, if it’s true that an indicator of a good team is one that can get results despite not being at its best, then FC certainly passed that test. Any criticism of the Reds however should be tempered with praise for the visitors. FC have played West Didsbury & Chorlton women (including their previous incarnation as Chorltonians) more times than any other opponent in the history of our women’s team and have rarely allowed us an easy ride. They displayed a positive approach which was a far cry from the kind of “damage limitation??? approach that we’ve frequently seen from the women’s opponents.
FC were quick out of the blocks in this 15th meeting of the two sides with four corners coming in quick succession early on before being cleared.
Both sides then had goals ruled out for offside with FC’s Samantha Ball and Jamila Hodges of Wests putting the ball in the net. In between, FC’s Kate O’Gara was quick to see the danger as Wests’ Hannah Mitchell made a threatening run into the right side of the FC box but was blocked by Kate O’Gara. Undeterred, the visitors attacked again and Wests’ Rachael Dunlop (once a hat-trick scorer against FC for City of Manchester Ladies) stretched to turn a looping ball goalwards and FC defenders were relieved to see it roll away to safety across goal.
At the other end, Maxine Smith sent Jess Battle off in pursuit of a low through ball into the Wests’ area with Shauna Edmonson coming to her team’s rescue and whipping the ball off Jess’s toes. The move was greeted by offside claims from the visitors, which were waved away by referee Lee Robinson.
Offside decisions were to play a significant part in the first half. Moments later, the referee halted a Wests’ move by adjudging Dunlop offside. Protests from the visitors saw assistant coach Rob McKay (who was also acting as linesman) sent from the touchline. In fairness, the Wests number nine did look clearly offside and it should also be pointed out that, earlier in the game, the referee overturned a decision to award FC a free kick in favour of giving one to Wests for offside … apparently on the say-so of the Wests’ coaching staff. Nevertheless the incident highlighted the pitfalls of allowing offside decisions to be called by liners affiliated to one or other of the competing clubs.
FC pressed hard in search of a breakthrough with Jess Battle blocked by Hannah Mitchell resulting in a corner being whipped into the goalmouth and lunged at by Fran Davies only to see the ball skim wide across goal. Then Cara Fields showed good control to bring down a long ball and put Battle into the clear. The FC striker was denied by a fine block save by keeper Claire Jefferson. Moments later, the Wests’ keeper was called into action again, coming smartly off her line to block Kirsty Chambers on an angled run towards goal from the left.
A busy period for Jefferson continued with Battle taking a through pass from Ball in her stride. The keeper managed to block the shot but the ball ran loose into the area before being turned away by defender Katy Wilman. Olivia Hooper was able to latch onto the clearance but fired wide of the unguarded net from some way out.
Wests then broke out of defence to threaten the FC goal. A clever back-flick by Vicky Frisby sent Hodges away down the left. A fierce low cross eluded the touch of Elizabeth Livesey. The danger wasn’t over as Hooper had to block a return cross from the far side. The ball still fell handily for Frisby to have a shot from outside the area that Chloe Ainsworth was able to gather.
The last minute of the half saw probably the best chance of all to break the deadlock before the whistle as a Shauna Jein cross from the left beat the keeper and fell to Battle, unmarked at the far post, for what looked an easy tap-in. However the FC striker opted to take a touch and her hesitation gave Mitchell just enough time to slide across and block the shot on the line.
Early in the second half, Samantha Ball took an accidental but sickening blow to the head from the boot of Edmondson. After receiving treatment though she was deemed fit to continue.
Ainsworth came off her line to make a fine save after Dunlop latched onto a loose ball in the FC half and went through on goal. Chambers then went close at the other end with a shot across goal from a tight angle on the left. But Dunlop was back causing more headaches for the Reds, this time with a looping shot from distance that passed just over the bar.
Jess Battle’s frustrations in front of goal continued. Another good chance beckoned as she went clear on goal but, in trying to take the ball round Jefferson, the Wests keeper managed to push the ball away for a team-mate to clear. Moments later, Battle was denied another chance of a clear run at goal when the referee appeared to be the only person on the ground who thought she was offside when in pursuit of a through ball.
Yvette Loukes was introduced into the game in place of head injury victim Ball and was quickly involved with a run down the right but ran out of pitch before she was able to get a cross in.
Finally the visitors’ defence cracked when, for once, their back line wasn’t quite square and Hooper was able to run clear into the right side of the area and score with an angled shot giving FC a 1-0 lead.
However the lead lasted only four minutes. FC goalie Ainsworth mis-cued a clearance that fell to Livesey. A first time pass gave Dunlop the chance to send a shot high over the floundering keeper.
Both sides made changes with 15 minutes remaining. Kamran Hussain sent on Robyn Hartley for Smith, while Wests’ manager Paul Caddick replaced ex-FC defender Leah Dolan with Paige Chalmers.
The lead was restored shortly afterwards. Chambers began the move with a ball over the defence to send Battle away down the right and raced into the area for the return cross, taking the ball facing away from goal but was able to spin round the defender to finish with a low shot.
There were more chances for FC as Jein had a shot from FC’s 11th corner of the match that deflected off a defender and looped into Jefferson’s waiting hands. Then Jess McCarrick raced clear, supported by Chambers, but lifted a shot over on the run.
But Chambers managed to get through the defence again on the left with seven minutes to go and found Battle with a ball to the far post, who scored with a tap in to give FC breathing space at 3-1. It followed what has become a familiar pattern for Battle so far this season of finding herself having to work hard for any clear scoring chances only to find reward for her persistence late in the game.
Caddick made another double change in a last bid to salvage something from the game for Wests. Substitute Abi Littler had a run into the left side of the box but saw the ball whipped from her by Fran Davies. Dunlop, following in, was able to get a shot in but without enough power to cause Ainsworth any difficulty.
Wests finished with a parting shot as Livesey latched onto yet another loose FC pass but scuffed a long range effort wide.
Report by Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the game: Shauna Jein – provided much-needed midfield solidity.
8th September 2019:
Teams:
FC United of Manchester: 3 (0)
1. Chloe Ainsworth
2. Fran Davies
20. Kate O’Gara
12. Shauna Jein
4. Samantha Ball
6. Cara Fields
18. Olivia Hooper (Goal 63 minutes)
8. Maxine Smith
9. Jess Battle (Goal 83 minutes)
17. Jess McCarrick
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt) (Goal 76 minutes)
Subs:
14. Yvette Loukes (for No4, 60 minutes)
16. Robyn Hartley (for No8, 75 minutes)
West Didsbury & Chorlton: 1 (0)
1. Claire Jefferson
10. Ellie Caddick
20. Katy Wilman
2. Leah Dolan
11. Sophie Woods
23. Hannah Mitchell
17. Shauna Edmondson (Capt)
18. Jamila Hodges
14. Vicky Frisby
16. Elizabeth Livesey
9. Rachael Dunlop
Subs:
12. Paige Chalmers (for No2, 75 minutes)
5. Rachael Mason (for No11, 84 minutes)
7. Abi Littler (for No14, 84 minutes)
13. Liv Shilling
Referee: Lee Robinson
Venue: Broadhurst Park 3G
Attendance: 95
Official FC photography: Samantha Coates & Mark Lee
Film Footage & Historical Stats from Neil Boothman
FC United stats first column:
Goals: 3...........1
Shots on target: 7...........5
Shots off target: 6...........3
Corners: 11...........3
FC UNITED of MANCHESTER WOMEN 3 WEST DIDSBURY & CHORLTON WOMEN 1
FC WOMEN CHALK UP MILESTONES IN WIN OVER WESTS
Second half goals from Olivia Hooper, Kirsty Chambers and Jess Battle saw FC United women’s first home league game of 2019/20 produce a 100th league win, with Jess’s late strike being FC’s 400th home league goal.
It has to be said though that this was an FC United side that appeared somewhat off key at times with an unusual number of passes going astray and scoring chances spurned. However, if it’s true that an indicator of a good team is one that can get results despite not being at its best, then FC certainly passed that test. Any criticism of the Reds however should be tempered with praise for the visitors. FC have played West Didsbury & Chorlton women (including their previous incarnation as Chorltonians) more times than any other opponent in the history of our women’s team and have rarely allowed us an easy ride. They displayed a positive approach which was a far cry from the kind of “damage limitation??? approach that we’ve frequently seen from the women’s opponents.
FC were quick out of the blocks in this 15th meeting of the two sides with four corners coming in quick succession early on before being cleared.
Both sides then had goals ruled out for offside with FC’s Samantha Ball and Jamila Hodges of Wests putting the ball in the net. In between, FC’s Kate O’Gara was quick to see the danger as Wests’ Hannah Mitchell made a threatening run into the right side of the FC box but was blocked by Kate O’Gara. Undeterred, the visitors attacked again and Wests’ Rachael Dunlop (once a hat-trick scorer against FC for City of Manchester Ladies) stretched to turn a looping ball goalwards and FC defenders were relieved to see it roll away to safety across goal.
At the other end, Maxine Smith sent Jess Battle off in pursuit of a low through ball into the Wests’ area with Shauna Edmonson coming to her team’s rescue and whipping the ball off Jess’s toes. The move was greeted by offside claims from the visitors, which were waved away by referee Lee Robinson.
Offside decisions were to play a significant part in the first half. Moments later, the referee halted a Wests’ move by adjudging Dunlop offside. Protests from the visitors saw assistant coach Rob McKay (who was also acting as linesman) sent from the touchline. In fairness, the Wests number nine did look clearly offside and it should also be pointed out that, earlier in the game, the referee overturned a decision to award FC a free kick in favour of giving one to Wests for offside … apparently on the say-so of the Wests’ coaching staff. Nevertheless the incident highlighted the pitfalls of allowing offside decisions to be called by liners affiliated to one or other of the competing clubs.
FC pressed hard in search of a breakthrough with Jess Battle blocked by Hannah Mitchell resulting in a corner being whipped into the goalmouth and lunged at by Fran Davies only to see the ball skim wide across goal. Then Cara Fields showed good control to bring down a long ball and put Battle into the clear. The FC striker was denied by a fine block save by keeper Claire Jefferson. Moments later, the Wests’ keeper was called into action again, coming smartly off her line to block Kirsty Chambers on an angled run towards goal from the left.
A busy period for Jefferson continued with Battle taking a through pass from Ball in her stride. The keeper managed to block the shot but the ball ran loose into the area before being turned away by defender Katy Wilman. Olivia Hooper was able to latch onto the clearance but fired wide of the unguarded net from some way out.
Wests then broke out of defence to threaten the FC goal. A clever back-flick by Vicky Frisby sent Hodges away down the left. A fierce low cross eluded the touch of Elizabeth Livesey. The danger wasn’t over as Hooper had to block a return cross from the far side. The ball still fell handily for Frisby to have a shot from outside the area that Chloe Ainsworth was able to gather.
The last minute of the half saw probably the best chance of all to break the deadlock before the whistle as a Shauna Jein cross from the left beat the keeper and fell to Battle, unmarked at the far post, for what looked an easy tap-in. However the FC striker opted to take a touch and her hesitation gave Mitchell just enough time to slide across and block the shot on the line.
Early in the second half, Samantha Ball took an accidental but sickening blow to the head from the boot of Edmondson. After receiving treatment though she was deemed fit to continue.
Ainsworth came off her line to make a fine save after Dunlop latched onto a loose ball in the FC half and went through on goal. Chambers then went close at the other end with a shot across goal from a tight angle on the left. But Dunlop was back causing more headaches for the Reds, this time with a looping shot from distance that passed just over the bar.
Jess Battle’s frustrations in front of goal continued. Another good chance beckoned as she went clear on goal but, in trying to take the ball round Jefferson, the Wests keeper managed to push the ball away for a team-mate to clear. Moments later, Battle was denied another chance of a clear run at goal when the referee appeared to be the only person on the ground who thought she was offside when in pursuit of a through ball.
Yvette Loukes was introduced into the game in place of head injury victim Ball and was quickly involved with a run down the right but ran out of pitch before she was able to get a cross in.
Finally the visitors’ defence cracked when, for once, their back line wasn’t quite square and Hooper was able to run clear into the right side of the area and score with an angled shot giving FC a 1-0 lead.
However the lead lasted only four minutes. FC goalie Ainsworth mis-cued a clearance that fell to Livesey. A first time pass gave Dunlop the chance to send a shot high over the floundering keeper.
Both sides made changes with 15 minutes remaining. Kamran Hussain sent on Robyn Hartley for Smith, while Wests’ manager Paul Caddick replaced ex-FC defender Leah Dolan with Paige Chalmers.
The lead was restored shortly afterwards. Chambers began the move with a ball over the defence to send Battle away down the right and raced into the area for the return cross, taking the ball facing away from goal but was able to spin round the defender to finish with a low shot.
There were more chances for FC as Jein had a shot from FC’s 11th corner of the match that deflected off a defender and looped into Jefferson’s waiting hands. Then Jess McCarrick raced clear, supported by Chambers, but lifted a shot over on the run.
But Chambers managed to get through the defence again on the left with seven minutes to go and found Battle with a ball to the far post, who scored with a tap in to give FC breathing space at 3-1. It followed what has become a familiar pattern for Battle so far this season of finding herself having to work hard for any clear scoring chances only to find reward for her persistence late in the game.
Caddick made another double change in a last bid to salvage something from the game for Wests. Substitute Abi Littler had a run into the left side of the box but saw the ball whipped from her by Fran Davies. Dunlop, following in, was able to get a shot in but without enough power to cause Ainsworth any difficulty.
Wests finished with a parting shot as Livesey latched onto yet another loose FC pass but scuffed a long range effort wide.
Report by Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the game: Shauna Jein – provided much-needed midfield solidity.
8th September 2019:
Teams:
FC United of Manchester: 3 (0)
1. Chloe Ainsworth
2. Fran Davies
20. Kate O’Gara
12. Shauna Jein
4. Samantha Ball
6. Cara Fields
18. Olivia Hooper (Goal 63 minutes)
8. Maxine Smith
9. Jess Battle (Goal 83 minutes)
17. Jess McCarrick
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt) (Goal 76 minutes)
Subs:
14. Yvette Loukes (for No4, 60 minutes)
16. Robyn Hartley (for No8, 75 minutes)
West Didsbury & Chorlton: 1 (0)
1. Claire Jefferson
10. Ellie Caddick
20. Katy Wilman
2. Leah Dolan
11. Sophie Woods
23. Hannah Mitchell
17. Shauna Edmondson (Capt)
18. Jamila Hodges
14. Vicky Frisby
16. Elizabeth Livesey
9. Rachael Dunlop
Subs:
12. Paige Chalmers (for No2, 75 minutes)
5. Rachael Mason (for No11, 84 minutes)
7. Abi Littler (for No14, 84 minutes)
13. Liv Shilling
Referee: Lee Robinson
Venue: Broadhurst Park 3G
Attendance: 95
Official FC photography: Samantha Coates & Mark Lee
Film Footage & Historical Stats from Neil Boothman
FC United stats first column:
Goals: 3...........1
Shots on target: 7...........5
Shots off target: 6...........3
Corners: 11...........3
