Match Report
FC United earned their first points of their debut season in FA Women’s National League Divison One North with a well-deserved 3-1 victory against Bradford City. However it may have come at the cost of increasing the team’s already lengthy injury list. Beth Hayes, herself an early injury replacement for Isabelle Cook, was withdrawn just before half time suffering the after-effects of a three-way collision in her own penalty area while attempting to shield the ball back to Chloe Ainsworth. Late in the game, Kaylea Cunliffe was helped off the field after sustaining a head knock and possible concussion.
There were early chances at both ends as the game got under way though. Only two minutes in, Chambers pounced on some lax defending by the visitors to fire in a shot that was blocked by Bantams’ keeper Richards. Ainsworth in FC United’s goal was similarly alert to deny Lambert before Chambers led another raid, getting away on the left to cross to the far side of the box from where Smith shot wide across goal under pressure from a defender.
A free-kick sent into the Bradford goalmouth came back out for Hartley to get in a shot on the turn that was touched onto the bar by Richards. At the other end Stube got clear one-on-one with the keeper but Ainsworth did well come out and block the shot.
The deadlock was broken after 28 minutes. FC United captain Chambers hitting an unstoppable shot inside the far post from the left side of the area for her first league goal of the season.
Bradford looked to strike back immediately with Lambert, down inside-right, nudging the ball inside to Beck who was blocked by a timely Corie Mather challenge, though one which left FC’s no. 2 requiring attention from the physio before continuing.
Hartley put Chambers away on the left and got into position for a return cross but fired just wide. Soon afterwards, a half-cleared ball fell invitingly for O’Gara to fire in a stinging shot from 25 yards that Richards managed to turn aside. From the resultant corner, Chambers and Hartley again combined with the captain taking a smart return backheel from her team-mate but finding the keeper well placed to block a tight-angled shot.
A second goal was on the cards and came in first half added time. Donelan set the move in motion with a ball down the left wing. A missed defensive header let it through to Chambers who put over a cross from which Hartley found the net.
And only minutes after the restart, the lead was increased to 3-0. Chambers again the provider with a cross whipped in from the left and Hartley again the finisher with an airborne volley that admittedly was scored from point-blank range but needed a sharp reaction and timing.
Visiting captain Woodcock sent an attempted clearance skyward, dropping almost perfectly for Hartley but she was denied a hat-trick by a fine block by Richards.
In a somewhat scrappy period of play, the Bantams came closest to breaking FC’s stranglehold on the game when Roberts had a go at goal from a free kick from some way outside the area which hit the bar.
Further chances for FC saw Davies and Chambers not quite managing to hit the target while Lambert hit a looping shot from outside the area for Bradford for a save which Ainsworth made look easy by showing good anticipation.
The visitors weren’t giving up though. Despite possibility being unsighted by bodies in front of her, Ainsworth still did well to gather a low shot from Stube. However there was some late consolation as Roberts, probably the Bantams’ best player on the night, found the top right hand corner with a free kick from 25 yards out.
Next up for the Reds is a trip to face Barnsley on Sunday 29th August. Kick off 2pm at Wombwell Recreation Centre.
By Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the Match: Ella Hartley
Match day photography (by Mark Lee): view here
Stats (courtesy of Paul Hinson):
Shots on target: 9-7
Shots off target: 9-5
Free kicks: 16-22
Corners: 1-1
Offsides: 3-1
Yellow Cards: 0-0
Red Cards: 0-0
Passes: 289-221
Possession: 57%-43%
Match Report
FC United earned their first points of their debut season in FA Women’s National League Divison One North with a well-deserved 3-1 victory against Bradford City. However it may have come at the cost of increasing the team’s already lengthy injury list. Beth Hayes, herself an early injury replacement for Isabelle Cook, was withdrawn just before half time suffering the after-effects of a three-way collision in her own penalty area while attempting to shield the ball back to Chloe Ainsworth. Late in the game, Kaylea Cunliffe was helped off the field after sustaining a head knock and possible concussion.
There were early chances at both ends as the game got under way though. Only two minutes in, Chambers pounced on some lax defending by the visitors to fire in a shot that was blocked by Bantams’ keeper Richards. Ainsworth in FC United’s goal was similarly alert to deny Lambert before Chambers led another raid, getting away on the left to cross to the far side of the box from where Smith shot wide across goal under pressure from a defender.
A free-kick sent into the Bradford goalmouth came back out for Hartley to get in a shot on the turn that was touched onto the bar by Richards. At the other end Stube got clear one-on-one with the keeper but Ainsworth did well come out and block the shot.
The deadlock was broken after 28 minutes. FC United captain Chambers hitting an unstoppable shot inside the far post from the left side of the area for her first league goal of the season.
Bradford looked to strike back immediately with Lambert, down inside-right, nudging the ball inside to Beck who was blocked by a timely Corie Mather challenge, though one which left FC’s no. 2 requiring attention from the physio before continuing.
Hartley put Chambers away on the left and got into position for a return cross but fired just wide. Soon afterwards, a half-cleared ball fell invitingly for O’Gara to fire in a stinging shot from 25 yards that Richards managed to turn aside. From the resultant corner, Chambers and Hartley again combined with the captain taking a smart return backheel from her team-mate but finding the keeper well placed to block a tight-angled shot.
A second goal was on the cards and came in first half added time. Donelan set the move in motion with a ball down the left wing. A missed defensive header let it through to Chambers who put over a cross from which Hartley found the net.
And only minutes after the restart, the lead was increased to 3-0. Chambers again the provider with a cross whipped in from the left and Hartley again the finisher with an airborne volley that admittedly was scored from point-blank range but needed a sharp reaction and timing.
Visiting captain Woodcock sent an attempted clearance skyward, dropping almost perfectly for Hartley but she was denied a hat-trick by a fine block by Richards.
In a somewhat scrappy period of play, the Bantams came closest to breaking FC’s stranglehold on the game when Roberts had a go at goal from a free kick from some way outside the area which hit the bar.
Further chances for FC saw Davies and Chambers not quite managing to hit the target while Lambert hit a looping shot from outside the area for Bradford for a save which Ainsworth made look easy by showing good anticipation.
The visitors weren’t giving up though. Despite possibility being unsighted by bodies in front of her, Ainsworth still did well to gather a low shot from Stube. However there was some late consolation as Roberts, probably the Bantams’ best player on the night, found the top right hand corner with a free kick from 25 yards out.
Next up for the Reds is a trip to face Barnsley on Sunday 29th August. Kick off 2pm at Wombwell Recreation Centre.
By Phil Bradbury
FC Player of the Match: Ella Hartley
Match day photography (by Mark Lee): view here
Stats (courtesy of Paul Hinson):
Shots on target: 9-7
Shots off target: 9-5
Free kicks: 16-22
Corners: 1-1
Offsides: 3-1
Yellow Cards: 0-0
Red Cards: 0-0
Passes: 289-221
Possession: 57%-43%
