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November 2004 match reports |
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| Sun 28 Nov 2004 |
League
Cup 1st Round |
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Windscale 5 |
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0 Manchester Stingers |
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POTM - Mini |
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The Team
Jane Laycock (gk)
Katie Fingers, Mickey McCormick, Shelley Hollihead, Gwen Davies
Jinny Ursell, Mini, Jackie Ryan, Rachael Taylor,
Eve Talbot, Nichola Absalom
Match report
This league cup fixture against 1st division opposition provided Stingers
with the opportunitiy to put their newly forged confidence and free
flowing football to the test. Windscale came out of the traps flying
while it seemed that Stingers were still living it up in Carlisle
(in true footballers wives' stylie!) and within minutes of the kick
off found themselves 1-0 down.
It was a stark wake up call and Stingers steadied themselves from
the restart and quickly got their passing game going. If Windscale
were expecting an easy ride they soon had to reassess, as Stingers
played with increasing guile and imagination, giving their 1st division
opposition plenty to think about with pacey attacks coming from both
flanks. Reverting to a more traditional 4-4-2 didnt seem to upset
the yellows at all, as JR and Mini began to boss the midfield, releasing
both Jin and Rach on the flanks and Windscale struggled with their
pace. The rest of the half was played almost entirely in the front
of the Windscale goal and Eve, Nic and Jin all had good chances to
pull Stingers level.
Windscale were limited to the odd forray into the Stingers half, but
the back four dealt admirably with any potentially difficult situations
and managed to frustrate the Windscale forwards by employing the offside
rule with great effect.The half time whistle could not come too soon
for the home side and as their manager sportingly conceded it was
the yellows that played the better football and took the game to Windscale
in the first half - and on another day they would have gone in ahead.
The second half did see the home side assert themselves and soon they
had doubled their lead and continued to put the yellows under pressure
with some sharp passing. Two further goals were conceded and although
Stingers battled bravely until the end they were unable to get the
goal they deserved.
Defeated by a well organised and talented side, but not dismayed -
We've come a long way this season and there is plenty more good football
and goals to look foward to. Next sunday sees a return to the league,
as Stingers entertain Blackpool Wren Reserves at home and hope to
maintain their 6 game unbeaten league streak as they continue to stake
a claim for promotion.
Karen Harris |
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| Sun 07 Nov 2004 |
Divisional
Cup 1st Round |
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Buxton 1 |
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2 Manchester Stingers |
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Eve Talbot (43)
Jinny Ursell (86)
POTM - Mini |
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The Team
Jane Laycock (gk)
Katie Fingers, Gwen Davies, Mickey McCormick, Scooby Bambrook,
Mini, Jackie Ryan, Rachael Scouse Brown
Jinny Ursell, Eve Talbot, Rachael Taylor
(Subs - Lisa Harvey-Smith, Michelle)
Match report
Going into this fixture, Manchester Stingers had never progressed
to the second round of a cup and Buxton seemed (on paper) tough opponents,
having beaten the Yellows 7-2 at the beginning of this season. Despite
this,
Karen was keen to point out that we are a completely different side
to the one that began the season with two defeats, and this tie was
within our grasp.
It must be rutting season in this part of Derbyshire, as the Bucks
seemed keen to display their physical dominance with a string of heavy
challenges, egged on by a large crowd of locals, pop stars and their
families. The yellows completely dominated the play in the first 20
minutes, with some encouraging forays into the box. An almost certain
goal was somehow halted on the line by the heavy ground, and several
corners were cleared by the tall Buxton number eight. Finally the
breakthrough came, when Eve took the ball forward and wrong-footed
the keeper, before calmly side-footing into the back of the net. Stingers
were delighted that their diligence had paid off and went into the
break 1-0 up.
Buxton clearly had a 'talking-to' at half-time and came out with renewed
vigour, and within ten minutes a cross from their right-wing was met
by the striker's foot, making it 1-1. This is the point within a game
where the Stingers of old would have crumbled, but Stingers c.2004
pulled out all the stops and defended their hearts out. With ten minutes
on the clock, the yellows found their energy reserves and began attacking.
Rachael Taylor took the ball up the left wing, managing to cut inside
and take a shot, which rebounded off a Buxton defender. She quickly
recovered the ball, taking the defender and keeper with her and leaving
the box clear for Jinny, who had run up the pitch in support. Rachael
crossed, and Jinny headed in the winner, silencing the home supporters
and proving to Buxton that getting Stingers at home is indeed a 'Badly
Drawn Cup-Tie'.
Lisa Harvey-Smith
Other results in the Divisional Cup
FC Phoenix PP Frodsham - to be played 14 Nov
Glossop 0-1 Blackpool Wren Rov Res
Wigan Latics 1-2 Bolton Ambassadors (aet)
Liverpool Feds Res 3-1 Southport
Bolton Wand Res 3-2 Accrington
(all other teams receive a bye) |
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