FC Women bow out of FA Cup

Reds succumb to Feds as FC Women bow out of the cup.

FC United women’s record run in the FA Women’s Cup came to an end with a 2-1 home defeat to Liverpool Feds of the FA Women’s National League Division One (North) in the first round proper.

It was a largely frustrating afternoon for the Reds who found chances hard to come by against a well-organised and determined opposition.

A first half brace for Chloe Fisher put the Merseyside team firmly in the driving seat. FC captain Kirsty Chambers finally broke through to score in injury time and give brief hopes of a late comeback to force extra time but it proved too little, too late.

FC United made an eager start, no doubt looking to put last Sunday’s 6-0 away defeat to Tranmere behind them, but it was the visitors who drew first blood. Kate O’Gara made an excellent sliding tackle in the area to stop a dangerous run down the left by Mortimer at the expense of a corner.

The kick was floated dangerously into the goalmouth and Fisher, playing as an attacker despite wearing the no. 2 shirt, was able to rise unchallenged and score with a glancing header.

The Reds’ goal came under threat again when Feds’ captain Thompson made a run down the inside-right channel and played a ball into the area for Slade to get in a shot.

Chloe Ainsworth in the FC goal made an excellent point-blank save although it proved to be academic as an offside flag had already been raised.

Jordon Bailey, returning after missing the Tranmere defeat due to a knee problem, pounced on hesitancy at the back to steal the ball and get in a shot on the turn that Feds’ keeper Darbyshire managed to push behind for a corner.

Mortimer was proving a constant threat with her runs down the left wing and provided a second goal for Fisher who met a cross on the volley to finish from close range.

With the home side constantly being denied space by the Feds’ defence, chances were hard to come by. O’Gara tried an ambitious shot from 25 yards that sailed high and wide. Moments later, Mortimer and Fisher combined again.

This time the latter’s header bounced to safety off the crossbar.

The Reds were beset by injury concerns as first Bailey suffered a recurrence of her knee injury and had to be replaced on the half hour by Olivia Smith.

Feds then cleverly worked a free-kick from the left that almost ended with Slade poking the ball in at the far post but Ainsworth snatched it off the feet of the Feds’ player, injuring herself in the process but was able to continue after receiving attention from physio Lydia Colleton.

And there was no let up for FC’s stopper as she was soon called upon to turn aside a fierce long range effort from Mortimer. Just before half time, another low shot by Seagraves from outside the area proved tougher to handle as it pitched just in front of Ainsworth but she managed to get enough behind the ball to avert the danger. a double substitution saw Natasha Richardson and Caitlin Clancy introduced into the action at the start of the second half.

However the Reds were under the cosh for the first few minutes after the restart. Kinvig put over a cross from the right that saw Ainsworth stretched to tip away from the incoming Mortimer. Emily Marsh then came to her side’s rescue to clear a low ball into the area with Mortimer again looking to pounce. Jade Parker looked to bring her team back into the game by evading the offside trap to chase a ball down the left but the resulting cross was just too high for Olivia Smith in the middle.

Richardson then came a cropper in midfield on the receiving end of a mis-judged sliding tackle that earned Thompson a yellow card. But the Feds’ captain was soon on the attack for her team, pushing a ball past Emily Marsh to get a shot in, only to be denied by a block-save from Ainsworth.

Ainsworth was kept busy as the game went into the closing stages, being required to make a double save, getting down sharply to her right to save from Seagraves and then scramble back to her feet to block Mortimer’s follow up shot at the foot of the post.

Moments later, the Reds keeper denied Seagraves again, this time conceding a corner which she then had to tip away under pressure.

As the game moved into injury time, there was a lifeline for FC as skipper Kirsty Chambers pounced on Darbyshire’s hesitancy to reach a ball from Parker and take it past the keeper and score with a crafted, curling shot over the heads of the defenders chasing back.

Briefly, with the deficit halved, there was hope that FC might be able to stage a dramatic late comeback and force the game into extra time.

But, although they managed to re-take possession from the restart, efforts to get the ball into the danger area suffered from an air of panic knowing that there could only be seconds remaining. It proved too little, too late as the final whistle blew not only on this game but on FC United’s run in the FA Women’s Cup this season.

Attention now turns back to the league campaign which, COVID restrictions permitting, is scheduled to resume with a home game against Cheadle Stingers on Sunday 20th December.

Report by Phil Bradbury FC Player of the game: Chloe Ainsworth - whose mud-drenched kit at the final whistle told the story after making a string of superb saves to keep her team within reach.

FA Women’s Cup 1st Round Proper at Broadhurst Park.

Teams 13th December 2020:

FC United of Manchester Women: 1 (0) 1. Chloe Ainsworth 2. Hanna Wilson 3. Emily Marsh 12. Allisha Marsh 5. Chelsea Patient 6. Cara Fields 7. Corie Mather 20. Kate O’Gara 17. Jade Parker 10. Jordon Bailey 11. Kirsty Chambers (C) (Goal 90+2 minutes) (Yellow Card 65 minutes) Subs: 18. Olivia Smith (for no10, 30 minutes) 4. Caitlin Clancy (for no12, 46 minutes) 15. Natalie Richardson (for no7, 46 minutes) 8. Maxine Smith (for no20, 70 minutes) 9. Kaylea Cunliffe 16. Beth Hayes (for no2, 70 minutes) 14. Rebecca Cork 19. Laura Hart

Liverpool Feds LFC: 2 (2) 1. Rachel Darbyshire 2. Chloe Fisher (Goals 7 & 23 minutes) 3. Rosie Kinvig 14. Caroline Charlton 5. Chantelle Thompson (C) (Yellow Card 62 minutes) 6. Nik James 12. Jodie Mortimer 8. Amy Seagraves 17. Erin Slade 10. Mia Parry 11. Abby Pope Subs: 16. Paige Cole (for no17, 65 minutes) 4. Natalie Clark (for no10, 72 minutes) 15. Mollie Farley (for no8, 80 minutes) 7. Jen Rogers (for no3, 86 minutes)

Referee: Leoni Harland Assistants: Laura Bowater & Lucy Maccabe

Live streaming by FCUM TV & Radio Match day photographs by Mark Lee

Match day video by Neil Boothman

Attendance: 121

Stats - courtesy of Paul Hinson (FC United first) Shots on target: 3-10 Shots off target: 3-12 Free kicks: 13-10 Corners: 2-11 Offsides: 2-7 Yellow Cards: 1-1 Red Cards: 0-0 Passes: 243-280 Possession: 46%-54%