Match Report
Chapel Road, Oldham, set in the shadow of Devon Mill and ’Chambers’ Chimney, saw captain Kirsty Chambers fire a decisive hatrick as FC United overcame a stubborn Oldham Athletic, ultimately winning 7-2 to maintain their perfect start to the season.
Oldham led 1-0 at the break as FC proved indecisive in front of goal and the Latics defended stoutly. Just before the hour mark it was 2-2 as first Chambers equalised and Beth Hayes put United in front only for Lisa Wood to notch her second to level things up once again. Chambers and Shellby Wolstencroft then scored two in quick succession to establish a commanding lead before Chambers completed her hatrick from the penalty spot and Feiruz Abdullahi added two late strikes to leave a scoreline that on balance reflected the reds’ overall dominance.
Kick off was preceded by a moving silence in memory of the murdered humanitarian aid worker and Salford cabbie Alan Henning and it was the home team who then got things underway. United were fastest out of the blocks as Abdullahi had an early chance well defended.
Early corners were exchanged as both sides looked for the first clear opening and it was United who came closest inside the first ten minutes with Aimee Cooke, Chambers and Abdullahi coming close in quick succession with the Latics defence, marshalled superbly by Lesley English, holding firm. Their strong backline allowed a platform for the host’s first real attack as Shelby Newton fired a speculative high cross-cum-shot from the right wing which beat the back peddling Chloe Williams in FC’s goal but crashed off the bar to be cleared away. FC came close a minute later as Chambers combined with Hayes freeing Cooke to fire just over the bar on the overlap.
With the game finely balanced it was the hosts who broke the deadlock around the quarter hour as striker Lisa Wood broke beyond the United backline, spotted Williams off her line and lobbed the keeper from almost 30 yards.
United responded well but despite numerous chances, including a Chambers free kick that cannoned off the crossbar, the Reds could not unlock stubborn Oldham resistance and went into the break a goal down.
FC restarted the game in determined mood and Shauna Ward played a perfect ball into the path of Chambers who unleashed a fierce left foot drive to which Samantha Miller responded well at her near post in the Oldham goal.
United and Chambers in particular were not to be denied for long and on 49 minutes had the equaliser their endeavour deserved as FC’s captain drove in from the left and this time slotted coolly past Miller. Shellby Wolstencroft almost added a second as she volleyed just over the bar from a Beth Hayes cross and on 56 minutes Hayes herself gave United the lead as she accurately side footed home from 15 yards following an intelligent cut back from Chambers.
Oldham weren’t finished and brought the game level on the hour mark as once again Wood beat the backline and lobbed Williams in a replica of her first half strike. The game ebbed and flowed and the next goal was always going to prove pivotal. Despite the scoreline FC were in almost complete control and made this tell with two swift strikes in the 72nd and 75th minutes. Chambers fired the reds’ back in front with a 30-yard drive followed by Wolstencroft stabbing home from close range following good work in the box from Charlie Evans.
Chambers sealed her hat-trick from the spot converting high into the roof of the net giving Miller no chance after referee Alan Pearson spotted a hand ball by a Latics’ defender.
There was still time for Abdullahi to rejoin the fray and grab two goals - the first a minute after Chambers’ spot kick as she saw her first shot parried and then slid in to poke home from the rebound. Her second, in time added on, was a fine solo effort as she turned two defenders along the dead ball line before spinning passed the keeper and tapping into an empty net to lend a healthy look to the overall score and reflecting the reds’ dominance of 45 shots to seven.
Report by Rob Fullen
Player of the game: Aimee Cooke – there were many standout performances, particularly in front of goal but the sheer hard work and productive endeavour displayed throughout the 90 minutes by Aimee Cooke, without doubt assisted in the victory.
Teams 5th October 2014: Attendance: 57
Oldham Athletic Ladies: 2 (1)
1. Samantha Miller
3. Kim Shaw
20. Leslie English
6. Emmanuoela Chrissaki
15. Cheredith Green
19. Rebekka Jones
14. Amy Finnigan
12. Alys Wild
16. Sophie Barton
7. Shelby Newton
11. Lisa Wood (goals 13 & 60 mins)
Subs:
10. Gemma Smith (for No19 50 mins)
15. Rysia Freeman
2. Dawn Wild (for No8 60 mins)
17. Courtney O’Connor
FC United of Manchester Women: 7(0)
1. Chloe Williams (Goalkeeper)
2. Amy Battel (right back)
8. Adora Yau (centre half)
12. Jess Tonge (centre half)
4. Aimee Cooke (left back)
6. Holly Prestige (centre midfield)
7. Beth Hayes (centre midfield) (goal 56 mins)
17. Shauna Ward (centre midfield)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield) (goals 49, 72 & 84[Pen] mins)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward) (goals 85 & 90+1 mins)
Subs:
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (for No14 46mins) (goal 75 mins)
15. Katie Mooney (for No16 84 mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (for No6 23 mins)
GK: Mary Priestner
Roll on Roll off:
No14 for No2 78 mins
Referee: Alan Pearson
Venue: Chapel Road
Match Report
Chapel Road, Oldham, set in the shadow of Devon Mill and ’Chambers’ Chimney, saw captain Kirsty Chambers fire a decisive hatrick as FC United overcame a stubborn Oldham Athletic, ultimately winning 7-2 to maintain their perfect start to the season.
Oldham led 1-0 at the break as FC proved indecisive in front of goal and the Latics defended stoutly. Just before the hour mark it was 2-2 as first Chambers equalised and Beth Hayes put United in front only for Lisa Wood to notch her second to level things up once again. Chambers and Shellby Wolstencroft then scored two in quick succession to establish a commanding lead before Chambers completed her hatrick from the penalty spot and Feiruz Abdullahi added two late strikes to leave a scoreline that on balance reflected the reds’ overall dominance.
Kick off was preceded by a moving silence in memory of the murdered humanitarian aid worker and Salford cabbie Alan Henning and it was the home team who then got things underway. United were fastest out of the blocks as Abdullahi had an early chance well defended.
Early corners were exchanged as both sides looked for the first clear opening and it was United who came closest inside the first ten minutes with Aimee Cooke, Chambers and Abdullahi coming close in quick succession with the Latics defence, marshalled superbly by Lesley English, holding firm. Their strong backline allowed a platform for the host’s first real attack as Shelby Newton fired a speculative high cross-cum-shot from the right wing which beat the back peddling Chloe Williams in FC’s goal but crashed off the bar to be cleared away. FC came close a minute later as Chambers combined with Hayes freeing Cooke to fire just over the bar on the overlap.
With the game finely balanced it was the hosts who broke the deadlock around the quarter hour as striker Lisa Wood broke beyond the United backline, spotted Williams off her line and lobbed the keeper from almost 30 yards.
United responded well but despite numerous chances, including a Chambers free kick that cannoned off the crossbar, the Reds could not unlock stubborn Oldham resistance and went into the break a goal down.
FC restarted the game in determined mood and Shauna Ward played a perfect ball into the path of Chambers who unleashed a fierce left foot drive to which Samantha Miller responded well at her near post in the Oldham goal.
United and Chambers in particular were not to be denied for long and on 49 minutes had the equaliser their endeavour deserved as FC’s captain drove in from the left and this time slotted coolly past Miller. Shellby Wolstencroft almost added a second as she volleyed just over the bar from a Beth Hayes cross and on 56 minutes Hayes herself gave United the lead as she accurately side footed home from 15 yards following an intelligent cut back from Chambers.
Oldham weren’t finished and brought the game level on the hour mark as once again Wood beat the backline and lobbed Williams in a replica of her first half strike. The game ebbed and flowed and the next goal was always going to prove pivotal. Despite the scoreline FC were in almost complete control and made this tell with two swift strikes in the 72nd and 75th minutes. Chambers fired the reds’ back in front with a 30-yard drive followed by Wolstencroft stabbing home from close range following good work in the box from Charlie Evans.
Chambers sealed her hat-trick from the spot converting high into the roof of the net giving Miller no chance after referee Alan Pearson spotted a hand ball by a Latics’ defender.
There was still time for Abdullahi to rejoin the fray and grab two goals - the first a minute after Chambers’ spot kick as she saw her first shot parried and then slid in to poke home from the rebound. Her second, in time added on, was a fine solo effort as she turned two defenders along the dead ball line before spinning passed the keeper and tapping into an empty net to lend a healthy look to the overall score and reflecting the reds’ dominance of 45 shots to seven.
Report by Rob Fullen
Player of the game: Aimee Cooke – there were many standout performances, particularly in front of goal but the sheer hard work and productive endeavour displayed throughout the 90 minutes by Aimee Cooke, without doubt assisted in the victory.
Teams 5th October 2014: Attendance: 57
Oldham Athletic Ladies: 2 (1)
1. Samantha Miller
3. Kim Shaw
20. Leslie English
6. Emmanuoela Chrissaki
15. Cheredith Green
19. Rebekka Jones
14. Amy Finnigan
12. Alys Wild
16. Sophie Barton
7. Shelby Newton
11. Lisa Wood (goals 13 & 60 mins)
Subs:
10. Gemma Smith (for No19 50 mins)
15. Rysia Freeman
2. Dawn Wild (for No8 60 mins)
17. Courtney O’Connor
FC United of Manchester Women: 7(0)
1. Chloe Williams (Goalkeeper)
2. Amy Battel (right back)
8. Adora Yau (centre half)
12. Jess Tonge (centre half)
4. Aimee Cooke (left back)
6. Holly Prestige (centre midfield)
7. Beth Hayes (centre midfield) (goal 56 mins)
17. Shauna Ward (centre midfield)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield) (goals 49, 72 & 84[Pen] mins)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward) (goals 85 & 90+1 mins)
Subs:
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (for No14 46mins) (goal 75 mins)
15. Katie Mooney (for No16 84 mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (for No6 23 mins)
GK: Mary Priestner
Roll on Roll off:
No14 for No2 78 mins
Referee: Alan Pearson
Venue: Chapel Road
