The Team
Joey (gk)
Lisa (sub-Tess Ptonka, 80), Mickey, Gwen, Scooby
Polly Pocket, Sarah, Mini, Nic (sub-Karen Harris, 60)
Eve Talbot, Kate Gardener

Match report
With seven first-team players missing, this was not to be an easy game for
the Yellows travelling to Blackpool on Easter Sunday. In fact, the game
was something of a disaster for the confidence of the Stingers, who
earlier in the season had a surplus of players but unfortunately could not
produce numbers for this festive fixture. Eve was out on a limb up front,
being man-marked by two players and the defence were without Shelley,
Mickey, Scooby or Katie. Jane was replaced in net by Joey, who had a lot
to deal with from the incessant attacks from the improved Blackpool side.
There were small glimpses of play from the Stingers, but overall they were
dominated by the more experienced side put out by the Wrens. The home
team put five past the yellows, and the chance of a consolation goal in
the 86th minute was missed, leaving the visitors down-and-out. At least
the Stingers could take scant consolation in having a laugh at the club's
magazine name- 'Thrush monthly'.

The Team
Lisa Harvey-Smith (gk)
Katie Fingers, Mickey McCormick, Gwen Davies, Scooby
Jackie Ryan, Mini, Rachael Brown
Rachael Taylor, Eve Talbot, Polly Pocket (Nic Absalom - 60mins)

Subs not used: Tess Ptonka

Match report
The Stingers didn't need reminding the importance of each remaining fixture as they travelled to Frodsham. Their position on top of league division 3 is becoming more and more precarious, given the games in hand that other teams have up their sleeves. One can only hope that the congested schedule in the next month can provide some suprising results for the Yellows' nearest rivals. The home tie against Frodsham was an eleven-goal thriller, but the return match was more of a choker. With the backdrop of chemical works and the M56 to deal with, not to mention Eve's over-zealous use of deep heat in the changing rooms, both teams failed to show any signs of inspiration. There were a number of players missing from the team, noteably Shelley, Jinny and Jane. The game started well, with Eve scoring from a cheeky flick-on from Mini in the opening minutes but from then on the play was scrappy and the referee's obsessive officiation produced a very stop-start game. Frodsham were awarded a direct free-kick after 25 minutes and the tall winger placed the shot in the top-right corner, beating the wall and the keeper.

The second half is best consigned to history, however the Stingers did look mildly dangerous on a couple of occasions but the ball was scrambled out from the goalmouth. Frodsham missed a fantastic opportunity to collect all three points when their striker was allowed a free run on goal, finally going one-to-one with Stingers' stand-in keeper but Lisa stood up and managed to save the shot. The final score was 1-1 but both teams will surely be hoping to raise their game from now to the end of the season.
Lisa Harvey-Smith

The Team
Jane Laycock (gk)
Katie Fingers, Shelley Hollihead, Gwen Davies, Scooby
Jackie Ryan, Mini, Rachael Brown (Max - 80)
Rachael Taylor, Eve Talbot, Lisa Harvey-Smith (Kate Gardener - 80)

Subs not used: Claire, Polly Pocket

Match report
The Stingers chose to play their home tie against Blackpool Wren Rovers at another ground this Sunday, this decision was due to the appaling verbal abuse suffered by our members at the Whalley Range ground during the past two weeks by several upstanding pillars of the local community. Despite this change, the pitch was in good condition and the Yellows were determined to continue their excellent league form and gather up maximum points.

They began well and within ten minutes had gone 1-0 up after Shelley Hollihead sailed a corner inch-perfect into the box. Winger-for-the-day Lisa Harvey-Smith was left completely unmarked and made easy work of beating the Blackpool keeper. The Stingers could have settled down but instead made hard work of the game. Blackpool were a hard and physical opposition but the Stingers midfield gave as good as they got. Blackpool looked dangerous on the break as the yellows were guilty of over-committing at times. This proved costly as the visitors scored on the break, a defensive error finally allowing the Blackpool striker to chip the keeper making it 1-1 at the break.

The Yellows went straight back into the game believing they were the better team and immediately threatened to take the lead. When Eve was brought down on the edge of the box she was quick to claim the free-kick. In classic style she chipped the wall and beat the keeper with a magnificent strike into the top right-hand corner of the net. After this boost the yellows were in full flow and Rachael, Eve, Lisa and Mini all had attempts on goal. Crucially however, this dominant spell produced not a single goal and as the Yellows began to tire, Blackpool came back into the game. The Wrens almost equalised twice but Shelley was quick to close down the Blackpool striker and Jane bravely came to collect the ball. The final punishment came from another goal on the break from the visitors with only eight minutes to go. Stingers were so desperate for the winning goal but it never came, 2-2 was the final score and Stingers were left regretting missed opportunities.