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

Champions end league campaign in style with 12-0 victory over Oldham Athletic

After receiving and parading the league champions trophy in front of nearly 3,000 at half time in the men’s game on Saturday afternoon, FC United’s women’s team brought the silverware to the modest backdrop of their home for the season, Abraham Moss, to provide a pre-match photo opportunity for the regular supporters, numbering 57, prior to the final league game of the season on Sunday.

United won 12-0 scoring six per half without reply; Beth Hayes notched four, top scorer Feiruz Abdullahi netted a hatrick, Adora Yau grabbed a brace whilst Kirsty Chambers, Shellby Wolstencroft and Aimee Cooke struck once each in Crumpsall’s swansong encounter with Oldham Athletic Ladies.

In stark contrast to the conditions last weekend, this week’s game was played in warm sunshine and a moderate breeze as FC United kicked off and instantly drove forward. Abdullahi wriggled her way into the area and was tripped just inside as referee Stephen Watson pointed to the spot without hesitation, with the game just 25 seconds old. Up stepped Hayes to curl her penalty unerringly into the corner of Kim Shaw’s goal with the keeper rooted to the spot.

United continued to press and both Hayes and Wolstencroft fired long range efforts wide of goal. On five minutes captain Chambers doubled the lead scoring the Reds’ 99th league goal of the campaign. On half way, Jess Tonge guided a throw-in to Wolstencroft who controlled well, slotting a through ball to Chambers who fired low and hard through Shaw at her near post.

The Reds’ dominance of the early stages continued unabated as Charlie Evans and Amy Battel marauded down the right whilst Chambers did the same left side as Wolstencroft and Abdullahi looked to capitalise down the middle. Just past the quarter hour a left sided raid from Chambers produced a pin-point cross for Wolstencroft to head home from close range to score United’s 100th league goal of the season and third of the game. Just a minute later and Abdullahi added the fourth as she cut in from the right and unleashed a venomous drive across the keeper almost bursting the net at the far post.

The Latics launched their first meaningful attack spurred on by veteran Lesley English, resulting in a corner for the visitors. The set piece cleared the goal mouth congestion and fell to Danielle Martin beyond the far post to fire just wide of Mary Priestner’s goal. A resurgent Oldham broke forward once again but a combination of Chelsea Patient and Nicole Worthington thwarted their intentions as the latter guided a clearance header into the centre circle where Wolstencroft collected, turned, drove forward and slotted a perfect pass goalward into the path of Abdullahi who outpaced the covering defender and skilfully jinked her effort over the advancing keeper for her brace and the fifth of the game.

Just four minutes before the break and Cooke got her just rewards for her endeavour and work rate wrapping up the first half scoring after Abdullahi broke to the bye line cutting a low cross into the six yard box where a determined Cooke arrived ahead of all comers to fire home on the volley from close range.

A similar pattern unfolded in the second half as substitute Adora Yau was found inside the visitor’s area with a good pass from Cooke and lofted her effort over Shaw and into the far corner of her goal on 56 minutes. A minute later and Hayes rode three challenges inside the area but fired over the bar from close range rectifying things moments later as the ensuing goal kick found Hayes who looped a shot from near 30 yards over the keeper for goal number eight. Just passed the hour and Abdullahi had her hatrick and the 106th goal of the league campaign equalling the highest total achieved by the women’s team in their inaugural first season. The striker bore down on Shaw’s goal committing the keeper before rounding her and slotting into the unguarded goal from three yards.

Fittingly the scorer of FC women’s first ever goal back in July 2012, Yau scored the record breaking 107th of the campaign as she latched onto a through ball and calmly slotted passed replacement keeper, Lesley English, as United took their tally into double figures for the afternoon on 68 minutes.

Two minutes later a throw-in from Amy Battel, level with the Oldham area, found Hayes who swivelled and guided her half volley into the far corner of English’s goal from eighteen yards giving the keeper no chance. After Tonge and Worthington were pushed forward supported by Leah Hartshorne in the last quarter hour, all went close on several occasions, but it was Hayes who concluded the scoring four minutes from time as she crafted her fourth and the games 12th, cleverly shaping a curled shot over English from the angle of the area.

The team and staff were sportingly congratulated by the Oldham players as the final whistle sounded the end of a fantastic campaign. The gathered fans greeted the players and coaches with warm applause, cheers and chants and the team equally showed their appreciation for the support they have enjoyed all season long in all weathers.

Next Sunday, 26 April, United play Uppermill Ladies in the semi final of the Challenge Cup at the neutral venue of Our Ladies High School, Blackley. Get to that football ground for a 2pm kick off as the FC women’s team go in pursuit of more silverware.

Report by Rob Fullen

Player of the game: Beth Hayes – calm, composed midfield performance, a penalty and three other superb strikes to her name in the last league game of the season.

Teams 19 April 2015: Attendance: 57

FC United of Manchester Women: 12 (0)
1. Mary Priestner (Goal Keeper)
2. Amy Battel (Right Back)
3. Nicole Worthington (centre half)
5. Chelsea Patient (centre half)
12. Jess Tonge (left back)
16. Charlie Evans (right midfield)
7. Beth Hayes (centre midfield) (Goal 1, 58, 70, 86mins)
4. Aimee Cooke (centre midfield) (Goal 41mins)
11. Kirsty Chambers (Captain, left midfield) (Goal 5mins)
9. Shellby Wolstencroft (centre forward) (Goal 17mins)
14. Feiruz Abdullahi (centre forward) (Goals 18, 24, 61mins)
Subs:
1. Chloe Williams (not used)
8. Adora Yau (for No11 46mins) (Goals 56, 68mins)
18. Leah Hartshorne (for No 16 46mins)
Roll on Roll off changes:
Off No9 on No11 70mins
Off No14 on No16 70mins

Oldham Athletic: 0 (0)
1. Kim Shaw
4. Lesley English
5. Danielle Martin
7. Shelby Newton
8. Natalie Ryan
9. Rysia Freeman
15. Cheredith Green
12. Alys Wild
14. Amy Finnegan
17. Lucy Bonner
19. Rebecca Jones
Subs:
2. Dawn Wild (for No17 32mins)
10. Gemma Smith (not used)
Roll on Roll off changes:
Off No5 on No17 52mins
On No12 on No5 82mins

Referee: Stephen Watson
Venue: Abraham Moss Centre, Crumpsall.



First Posted ~ 09:58 Tue 21 Apr 2015
News ID ~ 6161
Last Updated ~ 01:52 Tue 16 Feb 2021