The Team
Jane (gk)
Katie Fingers, Gwen, Mickey, Scooby
Jackie Ryan, Mini, Scouse,
Lisa Harvey-Smith, Eve Talbot, Rachael Taylor (Polly Pocket - 75)

Match report
To follow...

Upcoming fixtures
WED 27 APR 2005 18:30
ACCRINGTON LADIES ' 91 v GLOSSOP NORTH END
FRODSHAM RANGERS v LEIGH RMI

FRI 29 APR 2005 18:30
ACCRINGTON LADIES ' 91
v
FRODSHAM RANGERS

The Team
Jane (gk)
Katie Fingers, Shelley, Mickey, Gwen, Scooby
Lisa Harvey-Smith, Jackie Ryan, Mini, Scouse (Rachael Taylor - 45),
Eve Talbot

Match report
"Stingers expect that every woman will do her duty."
-Admiral Nelson, 1805.

This was an historic occasion for Manchester Stingers Football Club as they hosted Burnley Girls in the Semi-Final of the Divisional Cup. Stingers had never before WON a cup game, let alone knocking out no less than two 2nd Division sides by convincing margins. On a beautiful spring day, the Yellows boasted an almost full-strength squad, and were definitely up for the fight. Using a new, more defensive system the home side employed Gwen as a sweeper and four in the middle, hoping to keep a solid midfield formation to avoid leaking at the boughs. The home crowd were certainly up for a good game, coming in unprecedented numbers and adding to the atmosphere with drums, tambourines and all sorts of Bee mascots. And so to the football; the tempo of the game was very high and both teams had to work extremely hard. Although Eve was on her own up front, there was support and movement from the central midfield and wingers. As seems to be the case with the Stingers, they really raised their game against a tough opposition, closing down players and passing fluidly when given the chance. Jane had a fantastic game in goal, saving several one-on-one situations from going nasty. Unfortunately the Burnley Girls possessed a great deal of pace going forward and managed to find a weak spot in the Stingers' defence. Three goals were scored in the space of twenty minutes, leaving the yellows with a great deal to do in the second half.

The second half performance will be worn as a badge of honour for every member of the team as every player worked so very hard to level the game. The Burnley Girls could find no way through the defence and the home side looked so much more dangerous going forward. A couple of chances were saved by the Burnley keeper, then Eve sent the crowds wild as her link-up play with Rachael Taylor led to a well-deserved goal. At 3-1 the Yellows were desperate to score again, making runs and beating players left, right and centre. The nail in the coffin came from a Burnley corner which, due to a mix-up between keeper and defender, resulted in an own-goal. Despite this, the team played right to the whistle. This game has shown us, and a lot of other people, what the Manchester Stingers can do. Let's hope that we get our chance to compete well with high quality opposition next season. The Stingers congratulate Burnley Girls and wish them all the best in the final.
Lisa Harvey-Smith

Upcoming fixtures
WED 13 APR 2005 18:30
BOLTON v ACCRINGTON
FRODSHAM v CHEW MOOR
GLOSSOP v GMP

FRI 15 APR 2005 18:30
BUXTON v FRODSHAM

SUN 17 APR 2005 14:00
ACCRINGTON v LLANGEFNI

BUXTON v BLACKPOOL
CHEW MOOR v LEIGH RMI
GLOSSOP v FRODSHAM

The Team
Jane (gk)
Katie Fingers, Shelley, Gwen, Lisa
Jackie Ryan
Tess Ptonka, Mini, Scouse, Polly (sub-Nic Absalom, 45)
Eve Talbot

Match report
After last week's sobering battering at the hands of the Wrens, the Stingers needed to raise their game and gather three points from this penultimate league fixture. Unfortunately, the team seemed less than cohesive in the first half, probably due to a number of changes in personnel and were disappointed with their performance and lack of application. They began well enough, with a goal for Mini coming from a corner. Accrington replied swiftly, using the long ball to beat the defence and get quickly back into the game. They used this tactic again and again, eventually going 2-1 up before the break. Just before the half-time whistle, a clash of heads left Polly with an almightly shiner and she was replaced on the left wing by Nic Absalom.

The second half saw the Yellows raise their game somewhat, and when Eve was tripped on the edge of the box there was only going to be one outcome. She blasted the indirect free-kick at the wall, then converted the rebound, bringing the Stingers back on equal terms. Accrington continued to look dangerous and had several chances, often playing route-one through the middle and several times going one-on-one with the keeper. Jane did well to keep several attempts out, but one crept past giving Accrington the advantage. In an exciting finale, Eve made a run and scored a striker's goal to win the point for the Yellows, but the club is now left watching and hoping for some favourable results in the league's final fixtures.