FC's Women Cement Top Spot with pivotal victory over West Didsbury & Chorlton
Back on the 3G this week in front of another three figure crowd, FC’s Women defeated potential title rivals and until today, fellow unbeaten side, West Didsbury & Chorlton by five goals to nil. Jess Battle opened the scoring in the third minute but the red’s couldn’t build on the early lead until just after the break when Battle scored her second followed by one for Fran Sullivan before Battle grabbed two more to wrap up the win and three valuable points.
Luke Podmore named an unchanged side from last week’s Cup win over Penrith AFC and they got off to the perfect start as Kirsty Chambers attacked down the left finding Fran Sullivan who picked a perfect pass through the ‘West’ defence for Battle to slot her effort beyond Claire Jefferson after just three minutes.
West responded well and flighted a free kick beyond United’s far post headed back across goal and bundled home by former FC trialist Hanifa Douglas but adjudged offside by referee Stephen Watson.
From a similar set piece Chaneece Reeves received a slick pass from Elizabeth Livesey and turned inside United’s six yard area but fluffed her lines firing well wide. At the other end Jefferson was the busier keeper saving from Chambers, Sullivan and Loukes as the half ended with the slenderest of leads for the reds.
Within four minutes of the restart United had the vital two goal cushion that would ultimately allow them to build an unassailable advantage? Loukes attacked with incision down the right and burst to the bye line cutting the ball across to Battle who made no mistake in front of goal.
The second goal allowed United to express themselves more expansively and it paid dividends on 55 minutes as Chambers floated in a corner that Fran Sullivan shot goalwards with the flight of the ball deceiving the unsighted Jefferson as it found its way into the back of West’s goal for the third of the afternoon.
West Didsbury & Chorlton kept pressing effectively but United were now playing with the confidence of a three goal lead and two goals in two minutes by Battle just past the hour, rounded off the scoring and effectively ended the game as a contest. Battle’s hatrick goal came after an excellent pass from Sullivan released Loukes who cut the ball back to the United No 9 to lift her shot over the despairing dive of Jefferson on 64 minutes. Two minutes later and the striker bagged her 4th and FC’s 5th after good work down the left by Chambers squaring a low cross into the six yard area for Battle to tap home unopposed.
Although the scoring was over the introduction of all five substitutes gave the game a different but no less effective dynamic with Beth Tattersall and Nicole Hatcliffe both proving effective in particular demonstrating the strength in depth throughout this season’s squad.
Next Sunday, 5th November, United welcome second placed Curzon Ashton, sporting several former FC United players, to Broadhurst Park for another six pointer with the added spice of both sides defending a 100% league record. Come and cheer the side on as your support could make all the difference and is always much appreciated.
Report by Rob Fullen
FC Player of the game:
Fran Davies – marshalled the backline superbly in the toughest examination in the league to date this season; helping keep yet another clean sheet.
Teams 29th October 2017: Attendance: 121
FC United of Manchester Women: 5 (1)
1. Gemma Jackson
2. Fran Davies
3. Abbie Carrington
17. Jess McCarrick
18. Cara Fields
4. Olivia Greenhalgh
7. Fran Sullivan (Goals 55 mins)
8. Rebecca Foster
16. Yvette Loukes
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt)
9. Jess Battle (Goals 3, 49, 64, 66 mins)
Subs:
5. Chelsea Patient (for No8 69 mins)
6. Mia Holden (for No 11 76 mins)
10. Beth Tattersall (for No16 66 mins)
12. Fliss Winters (for No9 76 mins)
15. Nicole Hatcliffe (for No 4 66 mins)
West Didsbury & Chorlton: 0 (0)
1. Claire Jefferson
10. Ellie Caddick
3. Joanna Turner
4. Lyndsey Turner (Capt)
7. Lauren O’Neill
15. Sophie Bracegirdle
18. Jamila Hodges
21. Vicky Kerr
8. Chaneece Reeves
6. Elizabeth Livesey
14. Hanifa Douglas
Subs:
2. Debbie Price (for No3 57 mins)
5. Natalie Callaghan (for No10 67 mins)
9. Leigh McFadyen (for No14 33 mins)
11. Amy Friel (for No7 85 mins)
12. Emily Croasdale (for No15 63 mins)
Referee: Stephen Watson
Asst Referee: Daniel Adelman (Yellow & Orange Flag)
Asst Referee: Aaron Potter (Yellow Flag)
Venue: Broadhurst Park, Main Pitch, Lightbowne Road, Moston, Manchester M40
Official photography by Mark Lee &Samantha Coates
Film Footage from Neil Boo
Social Media Updates from Mikey Partington
Match Stats by Paul Hinson from:
click here
FC United stats first column:
Goals: 5.............0
Shots on target: 17...........2
Shots off target: 5.............4
Corners: 9.............2
Completed Passes: 310.........136
Possession: 70%........30%
FC's Women Cement Top Spot with pivotal victory over West Didsbury & Chorlton
Back on the 3G this week in front of another three figure crowd, FC’s Women defeated potential title rivals and until today, fellow unbeaten side, West Didsbury & Chorlton by five goals to nil. Jess Battle opened the scoring in the third minute but the red’s couldn’t build on the early lead until just after the break when Battle scored her second followed by one for Fran Sullivan before Battle grabbed two more to wrap up the win and three valuable points.
Luke Podmore named an unchanged side from last week’s Cup win over Penrith AFC and they got off to the perfect start as Kirsty Chambers attacked down the left finding Fran Sullivan who picked a perfect pass through the ‘West’ defence for Battle to slot her effort beyond Claire Jefferson after just three minutes.
West responded well and flighted a free kick beyond United’s far post headed back across goal and bundled home by former FC trialist Hanifa Douglas but adjudged offside by referee Stephen Watson.
From a similar set piece Chaneece Reeves received a slick pass from Elizabeth Livesey and turned inside United’s six yard area but fluffed her lines firing well wide. At the other end Jefferson was the busier keeper saving from Chambers, Sullivan and Loukes as the half ended with the slenderest of leads for the reds.
Within four minutes of the restart United had the vital two goal cushion that would ultimately allow them to build an unassailable advantage? Loukes attacked with incision down the right and burst to the bye line cutting the ball across to Battle who made no mistake in front of goal.
The second goal allowed United to express themselves more expansively and it paid dividends on 55 minutes as Chambers floated in a corner that Fran Sullivan shot goalwards with the flight of the ball deceiving the unsighted Jefferson as it found its way into the back of West’s goal for the third of the afternoon.
West Didsbury & Chorlton kept pressing effectively but United were now playing with the confidence of a three goal lead and two goals in two minutes by Battle just past the hour, rounded off the scoring and effectively ended the game as a contest. Battle’s hatrick goal came after an excellent pass from Sullivan released Loukes who cut the ball back to the United No 9 to lift her shot over the despairing dive of Jefferson on 64 minutes. Two minutes later and the striker bagged her 4th and FC’s 5th after good work down the left by Chambers squaring a low cross into the six yard area for Battle to tap home unopposed.
Although the scoring was over the introduction of all five substitutes gave the game a different but no less effective dynamic with Beth Tattersall and Nicole Hatcliffe both proving effective in particular demonstrating the strength in depth throughout this season’s squad.
Next Sunday, 5th November, United welcome second placed Curzon Ashton, sporting several former FC United players, to Broadhurst Park for another six pointer with the added spice of both sides defending a 100% league record. Come and cheer the side on as your support could make all the difference and is always much appreciated.
Report by Rob Fullen
FC Player of the game:
Fran Davies – marshalled the backline superbly in the toughest examination in the league to date this season; helping keep yet another clean sheet.
Teams 29th October 2017: Attendance: 121
FC United of Manchester Women: 5 (1)
1. Gemma Jackson
2. Fran Davies
3. Abbie Carrington
17. Jess McCarrick
18. Cara Fields
4. Olivia Greenhalgh
7. Fran Sullivan (Goals 55 mins)
8. Rebecca Foster
16. Yvette Loukes
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt)
9. Jess Battle (Goals 3, 49, 64, 66 mins)
Subs:
5. Chelsea Patient (for No8 69 mins)
6. Mia Holden (for No 11 76 mins)
10. Beth Tattersall (for No16 66 mins)
12. Fliss Winters (for No9 76 mins)
15. Nicole Hatcliffe (for No 4 66 mins)
West Didsbury & Chorlton: 0 (0)
1. Claire Jefferson
10. Ellie Caddick
3. Joanna Turner
4. Lyndsey Turner (Capt)
7. Lauren O’Neill
15. Sophie Bracegirdle
18. Jamila Hodges
21. Vicky Kerr
8. Chaneece Reeves
6. Elizabeth Livesey
14. Hanifa Douglas
Subs:
2. Debbie Price (for No3 57 mins)
5. Natalie Callaghan (for No10 67 mins)
9. Leigh McFadyen (for No14 33 mins)
11. Amy Friel (for No7 85 mins)
12. Emily Croasdale (for No15 63 mins)
Referee: Stephen Watson
Asst Referee: Daniel Adelman (Yellow & Orange Flag)
Asst Referee: Aaron Potter (Yellow Flag)
Venue: Broadhurst Park, Main Pitch, Lightbowne Road, Moston, Manchester M40
Official photography by Mark Lee &Samantha Coates
Film Footage from Neil Boo
Social Media Updates from Mikey Partington
Match Stats by Paul Hinson from:
click here
FC United stats first column:
Goals: 5.............0
Shots on target: 17...........2
Shots off target: 5.............4
Corners: 9.............2
Completed Passes: 310.........136
Possession: 70%........30%
