FC Women friendly fire 9 past Blackburn Community Sports LFC
Having a competitive fixture free Sunday, Luke Podmore invited Blackburn Community Sports Club LFC, who ply their trade in the Division above FC United, to a ‘Friendly’ at Broadhurst Park to help maintain match sharpness for the three pronged assault on silverware.
The home side didn’t disappoint and fired 9 without reply past their higher placed combative opponents. Captain Kirsty Chambers set the tone with the opening goal, the first of her four goal haul, after just 20 seconds. A brace from Fran Sullivan, and single strikes from Jess Battle, Beth Tattersall and debutant trialist Louise Naughton summed up a comprehensive performance in front of 54 spectators.
Blackburn kicked off but FC immediately smuggled possession and after a break down the left, Captain Kirsty Chambers fired home the game’s opener after just 20 seconds. After 5 minutes, superb interplay through a congested midfield between Tattersall, Cara Fields and Battle, resulted in the game’s first corner which Blackburn cleared well.
United’s dominance of possession and creation of chances continued unabated but it wasn’t until the midpoint of the half when the red’s (playing in white) finally bagged the crucial second goal. A short corner saw Rebecca Foster deliver a measured cross to the back post where Fran Sullivan arrived to slot home past a stranded Amy Dixon from close range.
On 28 minutes Chambers had her second of the afternoon. United played out from the back showing poise and control through midfield and decisive forward play resulting in a hacked clearance from the Blackburn defence that was picked up by the FC Captain on the left edge of the area. Riding a tough challenge and with the angle tightening, Chambers unleashed a trade mark strike over Dixon and into the top corner for arguably the afternoon’s most spectacular goal.
On the half hour, shear persistence and endeavour resulted in a deserved goal for winger Beth Tattersall as she chased down her full back and followed the back pass right into the six yard area forcing the keeper to fluster her clearance cannoning it off the winger and into the back of the net.
United saw out the half with a four goal advantage but not before a slight scare when Ruth Harrison fired in a goal bound 25 yard free kick. Gemma Jackson was determined to keep the ball out and timed her jump superbly strong handing the free kick out of harm’s way at the expense of a corner that Abbie Carrington cleared well.
Substitute keeper Chloe Ainsworth joined the fray after the break and from an early Blackburn corner stayed strong in the face of aggressive forwards in a crowded six yard box preserving the clean sheet.
Just before the hour, Olivia Greenhalgh swept in a superb free kick from the left that Mia Holden headed off the post with debutant trialist Louise Naughton reacting well to head home the rebound. Following the restart Battle latched onto a Holden through ball with Blackburn’s sub keeper Joanne Phillips, saving bravely.
Amy Vyas drew a foul 25 yards from goal with the angle favouring a Chamber’s strike. The Captain duly obliged firing in a low free kick that evaded the wall and caught the keeper unawares at her near post completing her hatrick and bagging United’s sixth of the afternoon.
Goal number four for Chambers followed 10 minutes later after good work by Naughton down the right fed the run of Fran Sullivan who drew a save from Phillips that deflected to Battle who laid the ball back to Chambers to calmly side foot the game’s seventh.
Despite an assist, unusually top scorer Battle had not registered to this point having seen several chances saved but the No9 was not to be denied much longer and with quarter of an hour left grabbed her goal finishing powerfully past the dive of Phillips after racing onto a Naughton through ball.
The scoring was wrapped up six minutes from time as the busy and skilful Jess McCarrick lifted a ball over the top spotting the run of Sullivan behind the Blackburn defence; the No7 flicking her shot past the advancing Phillips for her brace and United’s 9th of the afternoon.
Professionally, the reds saw out the game and despite the comprehensive victory and friendly billing, the game was arguably as combative as many of the fixtures this season and undoubtedly served its purpose in maintaining match sharpness. Thanks to Blackburn CSC for agreeing to the game and we wish them all the best for the rest of their season.
Next weekend, the Women resume their defence of the Argyle (League) Cup travelling to Birkenhead to face Cammel Laird 1907 LFC. Get yourself to that football ground.
Report by Rob Fullen
FC Player of the game: Jess McCarrick – superb all afternoon after being asked to play in three different positions by Manager for the day Mark Partington, as different patterns were tried out throughout the whole team, to good effect. Special mentions to Abbie Carrington, playing at the centre of defence and 4 goal Captain, Kirsty Chambers.
Teams 28th January 2018: Attendance: 54
FC United of Manchester: 9 (4)
1. Gemma Jackson
14. Jennifer Lomax
3. Abbie Carrington
17. Jess McCarrick
4. Olivia Greenhalgh
18. Cara Fields
7. Fran Sullivan (Goals 22, 84 mins)
8. Rebecca Foster
10. Beth Tattersall (Goal 30 mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt) (Goals 1, 28, 61, 71 mins)
9. Jess Battle (Goal 75 mins)
Subs:
2. Amy Vyas (for No7 56 mins)
6. Mia Holden (for No 8 56 mins)
13. Chloe Ainsworth (GK) (for No1 46 mins)
19. Louise Naughton (debut trialist) (for No10 46 mins) (Goal 57 mins)
Roll on Roll Off:
On No7 off No18 68 mins
On No8 off No14 75 mins
On No10 off No11 75 mins
Blackburn CSC LFC: 0 (0)
1. Amy Dixon
12. Leah Morrisey
6. Jessica Clegg
14. Kerry Wareing
15. Danielle Toward
7. Natalie Parry
8. Kay Unsworth
10. Justine Lorriman
11. Ruth Harrison
9. Alison O’Donnell
17. Claire Young
Subs:
13. Joanne Philips (GK) (for No 1 46 mins)
Roll on Roll Off:
4. Amy Dixon (GK first half) (for No17 73 mins)
Referee: Steve Darlow
Asst Referee: Dan Adelman (Yellow / Orange)
Asst Referee: N/A (Yellow)
Venue: Broadhurst Park, Lightbowne Road, Moston, M40
Official FC photography by Mark Lee
Film Footage & Historical Stats from Neil Boo
Social Media Updates from Mikey Partington
Match Stats by Paul Hinson from: click here
FC United stats first column:
Goals: 9.............0
Shots on target: 17...........4
Shots off target: 14...........1
Corners: 8.............2
Completed Passes: 399........156
Possession: 72%.......28%
Neil Boo – Match Fact: Having never won a competitive fixture 9-0 we have now won a mid season friendly by that score line three times; once today, once last season; against local team, Moston Brook and once the year before v Curzon Ashton.
FC Women friendly fire 9 past Blackburn Community Sports LFC
Having a competitive fixture free Sunday, Luke Podmore invited Blackburn Community Sports Club LFC, who ply their trade in the Division above FC United, to a ‘Friendly’ at Broadhurst Park to help maintain match sharpness for the three pronged assault on silverware.
The home side didn’t disappoint and fired 9 without reply past their higher placed combative opponents. Captain Kirsty Chambers set the tone with the opening goal, the first of her four goal haul, after just 20 seconds. A brace from Fran Sullivan, and single strikes from Jess Battle, Beth Tattersall and debutant trialist Louise Naughton summed up a comprehensive performance in front of 54 spectators.
Blackburn kicked off but FC immediately smuggled possession and after a break down the left, Captain Kirsty Chambers fired home the game’s opener after just 20 seconds. After 5 minutes, superb interplay through a congested midfield between Tattersall, Cara Fields and Battle, resulted in the game’s first corner which Blackburn cleared well.
United’s dominance of possession and creation of chances continued unabated but it wasn’t until the midpoint of the half when the red’s (playing in white) finally bagged the crucial second goal. A short corner saw Rebecca Foster deliver a measured cross to the back post where Fran Sullivan arrived to slot home past a stranded Amy Dixon from close range.
On 28 minutes Chambers had her second of the afternoon. United played out from the back showing poise and control through midfield and decisive forward play resulting in a hacked clearance from the Blackburn defence that was picked up by the FC Captain on the left edge of the area. Riding a tough challenge and with the angle tightening, Chambers unleashed a trade mark strike over Dixon and into the top corner for arguably the afternoon’s most spectacular goal.
On the half hour, shear persistence and endeavour resulted in a deserved goal for winger Beth Tattersall as she chased down her full back and followed the back pass right into the six yard area forcing the keeper to fluster her clearance cannoning it off the winger and into the back of the net.
United saw out the half with a four goal advantage but not before a slight scare when Ruth Harrison fired in a goal bound 25 yard free kick. Gemma Jackson was determined to keep the ball out and timed her jump superbly strong handing the free kick out of harm’s way at the expense of a corner that Abbie Carrington cleared well.
Substitute keeper Chloe Ainsworth joined the fray after the break and from an early Blackburn corner stayed strong in the face of aggressive forwards in a crowded six yard box preserving the clean sheet.
Just before the hour, Olivia Greenhalgh swept in a superb free kick from the left that Mia Holden headed off the post with debutant trialist Louise Naughton reacting well to head home the rebound. Following the restart Battle latched onto a Holden through ball with Blackburn’s sub keeper Joanne Phillips, saving bravely.
Amy Vyas drew a foul 25 yards from goal with the angle favouring a Chamber’s strike. The Captain duly obliged firing in a low free kick that evaded the wall and caught the keeper unawares at her near post completing her hatrick and bagging United’s sixth of the afternoon.
Goal number four for Chambers followed 10 minutes later after good work by Naughton down the right fed the run of Fran Sullivan who drew a save from Phillips that deflected to Battle who laid the ball back to Chambers to calmly side foot the game’s seventh.
Despite an assist, unusually top scorer Battle had not registered to this point having seen several chances saved but the No9 was not to be denied much longer and with quarter of an hour left grabbed her goal finishing powerfully past the dive of Phillips after racing onto a Naughton through ball.
The scoring was wrapped up six minutes from time as the busy and skilful Jess McCarrick lifted a ball over the top spotting the run of Sullivan behind the Blackburn defence; the No7 flicking her shot past the advancing Phillips for her brace and United’s 9th of the afternoon.
Professionally, the reds saw out the game and despite the comprehensive victory and friendly billing, the game was arguably as combative as many of the fixtures this season and undoubtedly served its purpose in maintaining match sharpness. Thanks to Blackburn CSC for agreeing to the game and we wish them all the best for the rest of their season.
Next weekend, the Women resume their defence of the Argyle (League) Cup travelling to Birkenhead to face Cammel Laird 1907 LFC. Get yourself to that football ground.
Report by Rob Fullen
FC Player of the game: Jess McCarrick – superb all afternoon after being asked to play in three different positions by Manager for the day Mark Partington, as different patterns were tried out throughout the whole team, to good effect. Special mentions to Abbie Carrington, playing at the centre of defence and 4 goal Captain, Kirsty Chambers.
Teams 28th January 2018: Attendance: 54
FC United of Manchester: 9 (4)
1. Gemma Jackson
14. Jennifer Lomax
3. Abbie Carrington
17. Jess McCarrick
4. Olivia Greenhalgh
18. Cara Fields
7. Fran Sullivan (Goals 22, 84 mins)
8. Rebecca Foster
10. Beth Tattersall (Goal 30 mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Capt) (Goals 1, 28, 61, 71 mins)
9. Jess Battle (Goal 75 mins)
Subs:
2. Amy Vyas (for No7 56 mins)
6. Mia Holden (for No 8 56 mins)
13. Chloe Ainsworth (GK) (for No1 46 mins)
19. Louise Naughton (debut trialist) (for No10 46 mins) (Goal 57 mins)
Roll on Roll Off:
On No7 off No18 68 mins
On No8 off No14 75 mins
On No10 off No11 75 mins
Blackburn CSC LFC: 0 (0)
1. Amy Dixon
12. Leah Morrisey
6. Jessica Clegg
14. Kerry Wareing
15. Danielle Toward
7. Natalie Parry
8. Kay Unsworth
10. Justine Lorriman
11. Ruth Harrison
9. Alison O’Donnell
17. Claire Young
Subs:
13. Joanne Philips (GK) (for No 1 46 mins)
Roll on Roll Off:
4. Amy Dixon (GK first half) (for No17 73 mins)
Referee: Steve Darlow
Asst Referee: Dan Adelman (Yellow / Orange)
Asst Referee: N/A (Yellow)
Venue: Broadhurst Park, Lightbowne Road, Moston, M40
Official FC photography by Mark Lee
Film Footage & Historical Stats from Neil Boo
Social Media Updates from Mikey Partington
Match Stats by Paul Hinson from: click here
FC United stats first column:
Goals: 9.............0
Shots on target: 17...........4
Shots off target: 14...........1
Corners: 8.............2
Completed Passes: 399........156
Possession: 72%.......28%
Neil Boo – Match Fact: Having never won a competitive fixture 9-0 we have now won a mid season friendly by that score line three times; once today, once last season; against local team, Moston Brook and once the year before v Curzon Ashton.
