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January 2006 match reports |
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| Sun 29 Jan 2006 |
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Manchester Stingers 1 |
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1 Buxton |
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Jinny Ursell (70)
Player of the Match:
Jane Laycock
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The Team
Jane Laycock (gk)
Katie Fingers, Shelley Hollihead, Mickey McCormick, Scooby (Gwen -
72mins)
Mini, Jackie Ryan, Scouse,
Jinny Ursell, Rachael Taylor (Polly Pocket - 88mins),
Eve Talbot (Maxine Bell - 75mins)
Subs: Michelle Ryan, Abi,
Match report
Sunday morning, 1130am and the Stingers were woken from their
hangovers by a bleeping text message from Boss Harris informing us
that their was to be a venue change due to the Buxton pitch being
host to Strictly ice dancing. However, this eleventh hour pitch change
to a home fixture did not advantage the Stingers, as the Buxton team
brought along their own referee, and their travelling fans, who tried
hard to put off the mighty Yellows throughout the match.
Stingers were almost all recovered from injury, so Harris opted for
the usual starting eleven. Keeper Jane ‘Mouth’ Laycock
returned from a two-week stint in Brazil polishing up her keeper skills
and it showed, if it wasn’t for the trademark curly bouffant
we would have thought we had a ringer in nets. Buxton kicked
off on a very swampy pitch that left the ball heavy, and took some
time to adapt to. From the off both teams looked sharp, and were battling
for every ball. The game was quick paced with attacks from Stingers,
and quick counter attacks from the agile Buxton side, but the chances
were met well by both keepers. Evey T, nursing a recent double air
bag injury, looked lamer than Arsenals defence and hobbled up and
down the attacking line. Despite this, she looked sharp at times,
and had a few chances that went wide (and a free kick that was very
poorly taken). Buxton had a few threatening chances, but Laycock was
playing her socks off and nothing was getting past her quick hands.
The second half kicked off as upbeat as the first. Stingers had the
majority of the possession and were pressing hard for the first goal.
Buxton looked as equally threatening on the counter attack. The game
was very physical with an abundance of tackles from both teams, and
was fantastic to watch, with Buxton justifying their league standing
and putting on a great display. Their talent was only degraded by
one player who showed her studs few too many times. Stingers defended
well, and pressed on for the important goal. It soon became
clear that the outcome of the game was not dependent on talent, but
on who wanted it more. Jinny certainly did, as she shot into the top
left corner. The away fans were left speechless as the ball smacked
into the back of the net. One nil Stingers.
But Buxton refused to dip their heads and the pace increased. Chances
occurred from both ends with an effort from Rachael Taylor been cleared
from the Buxton line. A fantastic collective effort from the Stingers
back four, and keeper, held off the Buxton attack until the 88th minute
when their striker headed home. The match finished one all and in
all fairness it was a justified result, with both teams displaying
immense drive and ability.
Maxine Bell |
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| Sun 22 Jan 2006 |
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Manchester Stingers 2 |
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2 Bolton Wdrs Reserves |
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Rachael Taylor (25)
Eve Talbot (39)
Player of the Match:
Katie Fingers
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The Team
Abi (gk)
Katie Fingers, Shelley Hollihead, Mickey McCormick, Maxine Bell
Gwen Davies (sub Mini - 65mins)
Jackie Ryan, Scouse,
Jinny Ursell, Rachael Taylor,
Eve Talbot
Subs: Michelle Ryan, Michelle Jordan, Polly Pocket, Vicky
Match report
Traditionally known as the Gentleman’s game, never
before has such an adage been further from the truth. Stingers anticipated
that the game would be tough, previous encounters had not gone our
way and Stingers confidence was somewhat jarred. Our regular pre-kick
off chat with Gaffer Harris calmed our nerves and left us grinning
like Cheshire cats. Full of confidence and self-belief, we marched
on to the pitch with our chests puffed out.
Stingers started the match with a few line up changes- Abi slotted
in nets for Jane who was absent due to Royal Mail commitments, and
Max (in recent weeks demonstrating more flexibility than Eve in a
photo shoot), played left back in place of Scooby, who left her knee
cartilage on Essential dance-floor on Saturday night.
With a nervous tension enveloping the air, the ref blew his whistle
and the match commenced. Wanderers were obviously keen on the three
points and from the off they looked extremely sharp, playing one touch
football exceedingly well. Stingers defended strong though, with slide
tackles launching in from every direction, which seemed only to add
to the frustration of the immature Wanderers side. Stingers also had
their attacking chances with Jinny, Rach and Evey T just missing the
mark.
Wanderers seemed to adopt a bring-them-down-hard strategy and late
tackles and pushes in the back were in abundance, which seemed to
elude the referee’s attention. Stingers remained composed and
rose to the challenge. A midfield pass in the twenty fifth minute
landed at Evey T’s feet, who proceeded on one of her breath
taking dribbles and weaved in and out of the Wanderers defence to
the right edge of the box, before looking up and knocking a crisp
low pass across the danger area. The ball screamed past two Wanderers
defenders and found an unmarked Rachael Taylor, who calmly slotted
in from two yards out.
Seemingly unperturbed by this, Wanderers pressed on, and Stingers
again were under pressure defensively from the agile wingers. Their
persistence and aerial domination paid off ten minutes later when
a throw by Max was intercepted, and Wanderers crossed to an unmarked
attacker, who coolly slotted past Abi. More crunching tackles followed,
and Wanderers remained threatening up until the half time whistle.
The second half looked more promising for Stingers, who raised their
game. More attacking chances followed with some shots being just wide
of the mark. Fingers made a fantastic pass to Jinny Beckham who like
a little whippet dribbled down the line and crossed to Evey T with
pin-point accuracy. Talbot jumped into the air and headed into the
top corner in her typical cheeky style. The keeper didn’t stand
a chance, two-one Stingers.
Again, to their credit, and despite the continuous dissent and bickering
amongst themselves, Wanderers pressed on. They were rewarded in the
seventieth minute when they mirrored Evey T’s goal and headed
in from a cross. The last twenty minutes were awkward to watch with
Stingers really battling. A free kick from Max sailed inches over,
and a blast from Mini just inside the box was met well by the keeper.
Eve went on a magnificent run only to shoot inches over the crossbar.
A clearance off the line by defender Fingers in the dying minutes
left Harris with her heart in her mouth, and the full time whistle
was met with as much relief as disappointment. Wanderers left the
pitch with one point and three yellow cards.
Stingers relaxed after the match in the clubhouse and Fingers was
awarded man of the match. After consultation with Wanderers, stand
in match reporter Max established that Fingers was awarded not for
her performance, but because she reminded three Wanderers players
of their mum. What an accomplishment Fingers, and a note to fellow
Stingers - you don’t have to try hard to receive such an award.
Stingers settled down to watch the United game, then went to Iguana
bar to catch the second half. The genius of intellect and social status
ey - Tally Ho Stingers.
Maxine Bell |
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| Sun 15 Jan 2006 |
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Bolton Lads & Girls 0 |
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1 Manchester Stingers |
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Rachael Taylor (85)
Player of the Match:
Jackie Ryan
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The Team
Maxine Bell(gk)
Katie Fingers, Shelley Hollihead, Mickey McCormick, Scooby
Gwen Davies
Jackie Ryan, Scouse,
Jinny Ursell (Emma Hunter - 50mins), Rachael Taylor,
Eve Talbot
Subs: Welsh Clare, Polly Pocket, Vicky
Match report
Fate it seems, is not without a sense of justice. After weeks
and weeks of complaining about the poor calibre of match reports with
a distinct lack of football description, and an excessive amount of
self- appreciation, low and behold the match reporter/goal keeper
goes and gets her self injured and a new stand in arrives! Hallelujah!
The stingers sing in unison, as they soak up the intellect and feel
their IQ’s once again rise.
Stingers travelled to Bolton Lads and Girls with a squad at almost
full strength, and were feeling quietly confident after the previous
victory against this side of eight goals to nil in the absence of
super striker Eve. Our confidence however, was to be very short lived,
as it was clear that some structural and formational improvements
to this team had taken place since our last encounter. Gone was the
offside trap and in its place was the double man marking of Eve. This,
along with an extremely narrow and small pitch, ensured that the game
would be a struggle for Stingers. And it was.
The first forty five minutes was a scrappy affair, with the midfield
compact and the attackers getting drawn in. The Bolton formational
changes initially threw the Stingers, and prevented us from playing
our own game. The ball was up in the air for most of the time, ping-ponging
around in midfield, with a few isolated chances from Stingers, but
nothing substantial or game changing. A throw in from Scooby to Max
was deemed as a back-pass by the referee, and Stingers defended the
indirect free kick well. Stingers really battled up until the
half time whistle, and were much in need of the Coach’s words
of wisdom.
The second half started promising with the Stingers shape looking
much better. Stingers had most of the possession and began dominating
the game. The keeper began coming out of her net and claiming the
loose balls. The defence cottoned on to the hoof it and hope strategy
and fed to the midfield. The midfield began spreading out and feeding
the wingers. And Eve started to shake off the Defenders. And it showed.
Two chances from Eve and one from Rachael Taylor just shaved wide
of the post. But the final accuracy was just lacking. Harris,
having gnawed down to her elbows and about to give birth on the sidelines,
yelled some final words of encouragement to Stingers in her booming
Gooner voice. More scrambles in the goal area followed, with the Bolton
defence heading away and the Stingers attack shooting from all angles.
Stingers determination finally paid off in the 85th minute when a
Bolton header landed at Rachael Taylors feet. Looking up and noticing
the keeper off her line, Taylor chipped from twenty yards out. For
what seemed like an eternity the ball sailed into the air with the
Stingers looking up and hoping. “Its in!” thought Harris,
“Its over” thought Scouse, “I cant see anything”
thought Shelley, “Whats for my tea?” thought Scooby. And
4 painful seconds later the most pleasurable sound in the world, the
ball hitting the back of the net. Fantastic result Stingers. Persistence
pays off.
Maxine Bell |
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| Sun 08 Jan 2006 |
Divisional
Plate Game - 2nd Round |
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Manchester Stingers 8 |
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4 Bolton Ambassadors |
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Eve Talbot (15,25,38,56,68)
Rachael Taylor (29,37)
Player of the Match:
Jackie Ryan
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The Team
Jane (gk)
Katie Fingers, Shelley Hollihead, Welsh Clare (Helen - 75mins), Scooby
Gwen Davies
Jackie Ryan, Scouse,
Jinny Ursell (Abi - 70mins), Rachael Taylor (Polly Pocket - 70mins),
Eve Talbot
Match report
The Stingers had a good start starting positively. BA had
a full squad as well and looked strong at times. Eve scored a cracker
and BA pulled a goal back quite soon after. The Stingers left BA standing
with regards to our wing play and defensively we played well. BA had
a good keeper who stopped a few going in. Rachael Taylor got 2 great
goals also. The goals just flowed with Eve scoring a fantastic 5 goals
with some well-taken goals.
The second half started well but Stingers became tired with the last
ten minutes showing the Stingers scrambling for the ball and at times
BA players were unmarked in the Stingers box. Overall a great result
for a cup game and considering that it was the first game after xmas
we have shown that we can produce exceptional performances. I find
people are talking to me after the game just to get a mention in the
match report (aren’t they Nick), and I know who you are!!! A
lovely buffet followed the Stingers win, but not a patch on mine.
Jane Laycock |
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