The Team

League Match
SUN 11 MAR, 2pm	Leigh RMI	1	v	2	Manchester Stingers

Scorers
og 23
Nicola Armstrong 49


Player of the Match
Shelly Hollihead

Match Report
Manchester Stingers travelled up the East Lancs road hoping to do the double on their Greater Manchester neighbours, having already beaten Leigh at Whalley Range in February's 12 goal thriller.

In previous years Leigh have proved to be one of the Yellows bogey teams, always digging out a result no matter how well our team played. This season however, coach Karen Harris said "bogey teams, schmogey teams" (or words to that effect): Forget past results, let's take each game as it comes. It was with this new confidence and determination that Stingers, missing key players, took to the field, knowing only a win would do.

With the wind behind them (a force 10 gale more like - think Frodsham but colder), the Yellows made the brighter start, winning several corners and getting into good shooting positions only to see their efforts on goal saved by the inform Blues keeper. As we all know though, possession counts for nothing, and on 20 minutes Leigh finally made it out of their own half, playing the ball neatly through the middle and getting a corner. The strong kick was met by an un-marked incoming Leigh player who hit a sweet shot on the half volley over Mickey's outstretched hands. 1-0.

This set back only seemed to give the Manchester team even more resolve, as they continued to pile on the pressure down the other end. A cracking corner from Armstrong was flicked on by Irish Nic causing such a commotion in the Leigh penalty area that one of their players headed into her own net. 1-1

The second half couldn't have started better for Stingers. Within three minutes of the restart, Mickey launched the ball downfield into the wind. This was controlled deftly by the Yellows centre forward Armstrong, who then dribbled round several Leigh defenders, shooting low into the net past the advancing keeper. 1-2!!

The rest of the match was a tense affair that saw both teams battling hard (against the elements as much as each other) with chances falling to each side. While not adding to the score sheet, Stingers determined defensive efforts meant they didn't concede either, eventually winning 2-1.

Despite being freezing cold, and not such a goal-fest as the last encounter, this was a great game to watch as the whole Whalley Range side worked so hard, pulling together and fighting for every ball. No-one's heads dropped when we went one nil down and every member of the team looked up for it and did their bit. All in all it was a great team effort from start to finish.

Idiot of the match: That'll be me again (don't you know the name Philippa comes from the Latin word for idiot?) for trying to escape from a ball out of the sky, only for it to chase me, cruise missile style, and land on my back.

Effort of the match: Anyone who was wearing shorts and running around that football pitch in the hail. Brrrr!

Philippa Jarman