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FC United Women in second FA Cup win but this time only 9-0

FC United Women in second FA Cup win but this time only 9-0An early blitz of three goals in the opening four minutes set FC United women on the way to the First Qualifying Round of the FA Women’s Cup as they beat Ashton Town Ladies 9-0 at Broadhurst Park last Sunday.

Only 27 seconds had elapsed when Corie Mather got free on the right and sent over a low cross for Jordan Bailey to sweep into the net from close range. Mather herself made it 2-0 only a minute later with a shot from outside the penalty area and the visitors were left further shell-shocked as a ball across the area from Bailey on the right was despatched into the net by the skipper Kirsty Chambers.

Chambers added her second, making it 4-0 by getting past Ashton’s Emily Bourne on the right of the area and cutting inside to score with a left foot shot.

Mather kept herself busy, having switched to the left wing, and put in a ball from which Maxine Smith set up Kate O’Gara for a shot but Ashton keeper, Alex Jones was well positioned to save. Chambers, seeking a hat trick, then hit the crossbar with a shot before setting up a fifth goal for FC when her short pass saw Mather find space in between defenders to poke the ball home.

Despite enduring a torrid first half, Jones in the Ashton goal showed her capabilities again. Although finding a shot from O’Gara too hot to hold, she was on the spot to save as Bailey whipped the loose ball back across the area for Smith to shoot from point-blank range.
The visitors had another narrow escape when Beth Hayes looked to capitalise on defensive hesitancy, smashing in a shot from a loose ball but again it was the crossbar that took the brunt!

Chambers again linked up with Bailey to latch onto a pass on the right of the area and fire in a shot that the keeper blocked with her legs. The Reds’ captain was presented with another chance to net her third of the afternoon when the referee, perhaps harshly, awarded a penalty to the home side after what appeared to be an honest attempt by Nichols to win the ball against Bailey. However Chambers spot kick was uncharacteristically wild and sailed high and wide. Minutes later, perhaps still feeling the frustration, Chambers was shown a yellow card for a foul on Ashton’s Courtney Harrison.

The Reds were soon back on track though as Emily Marsh came forward to score with a looping long shot from distance. Bailey then took possession on half way and danced through the defence to make it 7-0 with her second of the game. Hayes, in pursuit of a ball into the left side of the area, was forced wide but managed to turn the ball back inside to Chambers who drew the attention of the keeper before slipping a ball across for Mather to complete her hat trick with a tap-in.

Just before the break though, the visitors almost got themselves on the scoresheet when Chlodek almost cashed in on hesitancy between FC keeper Chloe Ainsworth and her defence to swivel in a left foot shot that sailed over the unguarded net.

It was a more resolute and organised Ashton side that came out for the second half and the Reds found chances harder to come by although it has to be said that FC United’s own passing and finishing seemed to lack the sharpness shown in the first period.

Emily Marsh joined the attack again, playing a one-two with Kaylea Cunliffe, but fired straight at the new keeper Abi Watkinson. Cunliffe herself then went close with a shot across goal on the run down the inside right channel. Marsh was then called into action at the other end to snuff out an attack from the visitors by whipping the ball away from Rigby to give Ashton their only corner kick of the game.

Hayes went close for FC, beating the offside trap to get in on the left side of the area but hit the underside of the bar with a shot on the run.

Finally the Reds added to their first half tally as Cunliffe found O’Gara in space on the right of the area with enough time and space to pick her spot and score low inside the far post to make it 9-0.

However, Ashton almost managed a parting shot as a shot/cross from Chlodek on the left forced Ainsworth to save as the ball threatened to curl inside the top far corner.

The First Qualifying Round draw brings Wakefield Trinity Ladies back to Broadhurst Park only weeks after a pre-season meeting that saw the Reds win 3-1. The game is scheduled for Sunday 4th October with full details to be confirmed.

Report by Phil Bradbury

FC Player of the game: Corie Mather - led the way with her second hat-trick in the competition.

FA Cup Preliminary Round at Broadhurst Park
Sunday 20th September 2020: Attendance: 119

Teams:

FC United of Manchester Women: 9 (8)
1. Chloe Ainsworth
3. Emily Marsh (Goal 31 minutes)
4. Caitlin Clancy
5. Chelsea Patient
6. Kirsty Chambers (C) (Goal 4 & 13 minutes) (Yellow card 31 minutes)
7. Corie Mather (Goal 2, 21 & 38 minutes)
8. Maxine Smith
14. Rebecca Cork
20. Kate O’Gara (Goal 77 minutes)
10. Jordon Bailey (Goal 1 & 37 minutes)
16. Beth Hayes
Subs:
9. Kaylea Cunliffe (for no10, 43 minutes)
12. Allisha Marsh (for no 6, 46 minutes)
17. Abbie Wright (for no 5, 46 minutes)

Ashton Town Ladies: 0 (0)
1. Alex Jones
2. Courtney Harrison
3. Amy Baker
4. Lucy Harrison
5. Eloise Dry
12. Alannah White
7. Emily Bourne
8. Hannah Chlodek
16. Caitlin Rigby
18. Danielle Nichols
11. Amelia Gwinnett-Peoples
Subs:
10. Georgia Pratton
13. Abi Watkinson (GK)
20. Elle Shepherd
(for no5, no1 & no18, half time)
6. Leah Bell (for no2, 80 minutes)

Match stats (Courtesy of Paul Hinson)
FC United figures first
Shots on target: 24-2
Shots off target: 24-3
Free kicks: 3-8
Corners: 2-1
Offsides: 3-0
Yellow cards: 1-0
Red cards: 0-0
Passes: 436-189
Possession: 70%-30%

Referee: Daryll Abrahams
Asst 1: Joe Morrell
Asst 2: Matthew Doran
Match day photographs by Mark Lee



First Posted ~ 11:12 Wed 23 Sep 2020
News ID ~ 8788
Last Updated ~ 16:00 Fri 19 Feb 2021