FC United of Manchester FC United of Manchester FC United of Manchester Badge FC United of Manchester Pitch In

Women slip to first league defeat against Middleton Athletic

FC United’s women couldn’t maintain their 100 percent start to the season as they lost 2-1 at home to league leaders Middleton Athletic in a game that saw both sides reduced to ten players.

This was destined to be FC’s sternest test of the season to date as the two sides with the division’s one hundred percent record after three games clashed in the warm sunshine at Broadhurst.

A tense opening and evenly matched first 45 minutes saw FC’s Aimee Cooke cancel out Middleton’s 16 minute opener just before the break after both teams had been reduced to 10 players following a fracas in front of the Middleton bench.

In the second half, despite FC creating some good openings, Middleton looked the stronger, fitter, more organised side and the one most likely to take all three points.

With fewer than 20 minutes to go, the visitors did exactly that when Belinda Carter grabbed the decisive goal to take the title initiative, maintaining their perfect start to the season.

Goalkeeper Mary Priestner, sidelined with injury for the foreseeable future left the United Management team scouring the north west for some temporary cover and just days before the big game Amy Gillingham, last season’s Captain and ‘motivator in chief’ responded to the call to fill the breach.

On paper, the FC side that took to the field looked strong in every department and straight from Middleton’s kick-off the Reds made inroads down the right through Kaya Janny, Beth Tattersall and Jade Parker but their defence held firm and secured a goal-kick.

It was the visitors who offered the first serious threat of the game on five minutes as Carter fired over the bar under pressure from Fran Davies and Chelsea Patient after steady build up down the right flank. FC were restricted to a couple of long range sighters of the visitor’s goal without an end product and just after the quarter hour were undone by a clever flick, turn and lobbed half volley from the edge of the area by Chelsea Cooke, which sailed over the despairing leap of Gillingham for the opening goal.

United looked for a response and the first test of Claire Jefferson in the Middleton goal came on 23 minutes as good interchange between Tattersall, Kirsty Chambers and Shellby Wolstencroft resulted in the latter slamming a 20 yard half volley that looked destined for the top corner only for Jefferson to tip superbly over the bar, preserving her side’s slender advantage.

With ten minutes left of the half Middleton should have doubled their lead as confusion reigned on the edge of the area leaving Gillingham stranded as Paris Welsh took the ball around her but slightly wide of goal allowing Davies and Patient to sprint back; their presence doing enough to force Welsh into rushing her effort into the side netting from a tight angle.

The game was becoming increasingly combative and the referee was forced to interject on a couple of occasions before tempers finally spilled over following a characteristic strong tackle by Amy Battel taking the ball and player right in front of the Middleton bench.

The resulting fracas saw both sides reduced to 10 players just five minutes from the break as Battel and Middleton’s goal scorer Cooke were summarily dismissed with straight reds.

With the Reds sensing an injustice they resolved to attack with greater purpose and just moments after the enforced stoppage, a surging run into the Middleton area by Tattersall saw her well challenged with the loose ball breaking for Aimee Cooke who slid her shot under the advancing Jefferson from close range leaving the game on a knife edge going in at the break.

FC got the second half underway with Parker purposefully weaving her way through an array of midfielders and defenders but the ball ran through to Jefferson and Tattersall charged down the clearance with the deflection going wide of the post.

Just minutes after the restart, Chambers broke free inside the left edge of the area and unleashed a fierce drive across the goal against the far post and back into play where Parker saw her half volley charged down by a resolute defence. On the hour, Chambers fired just wide from range after good hold up play by Lizzie Evans.

Despite having chances, the Reds’ back three always looked vulnerable to Middleton’s constant counters and it was clear FC were missing Battel’s influence more than Middleton were rueing Cooke’s and on 70 minutes the game’s decisive blow was struck as Welsh threatened down the right side of the area dragging Patient and Davies to the ball leaving Carter unmarked just beyond the penalty spot.

Welsh found her strike partner with a deft pass and Carter struck first time on the half-volley giving Gillingham no chance as the ball nestled into the bottom corner of her goal.

To their credit United kept up the pressure at the risk of being caught on the break and chances came for Parker, Lizzie Evans and the best being saved till last as Beth Hayes fired in a controlled a half volley from eight yards; her effort sailing inches wide when the keeper should at least have been tested.

Shortly after three minutes of stoppage time, referee Rigby sounded his whistle to seal FC’s first home league defeat in front of 95 supporters; the season’s highest crowd to date.

With no game next week, there is plenty of time for the team to work on the training ground and bounce back as they surely will, for the visit of Uppermill Ladies on 20th October.

Report by Rob Fullen

Players of the game: Aimee Cooke and Jade Parker for progressive performances through midfield with Aimee grabbing her first goal for FC.

Teams 29th September 2013: Attendance: 95

FC United of Manchester Women: 1(1)
1. Amy Gillingham (goal keeper)
2. Amy Battel (right back and red card 40mins)
4. Gail Pennington (left back)
5. Fran Davies (centre half)
4. Chelsea Patient (centre half)
9. Jade Parker (centre midfield)
12. Kaya Janny (centre midfield)
14. Aimee Cooke (centre midfield and goal 43 minutes)
10. Beth Tattersall (right midfield)
11. Kirsty Chambers (left midfield and Captain)
17. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward)

Subs:
16. Charlie Evans (for No15 86mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (not used)
8. Adora Yau (for No12 31mins)
7. Beth Hayes (for No8 74mins)
15. Lizzie Evans (for No17 40mins)
Roll on Roll off changes:
Off No14 on No17 5mins
Off No17 on No12 82mins

Middleton Athletic: 2 (1)
1. Claire Jefferson
2. Shauna Hurndal (Captain)
3. Cassie Tahiraj
19. Emma Thetford
5. Rachel Jefferson
6. Joanna O’Connell
7. Chelsea Cooke (goal 16mins and red card 40mins)
8. Chantelle Henshall
14. Megan Norton
10. Belinda Carter (goal 73mins)
15. Amelia Garlick

Subs:
18. Sophie Cummings (not used)
4. Jessica Wynne (for No15 then off again for No10 78mins)
16. Charlotte Lancaster (for)
12. Paris Welsh (for No7 20mins)
Roll on Roll Off Changes:
Off No14 on No7 27mins
Off No15 on No14 54mins

Stats courtesy of Paul Hinson and Aiden Montgomery: liveteamstats.com
FC United: Shots on target 9, off target 6, corners 5, possession 60% and pass completion 54%
Middleton: Shots on target 6, off target 13, corners 0, possession 40% and pass completion 43%



First Posted ~ 11:03 Mon 7 Oct 2013
News ID ~ 5126
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021