The Team

League Match
SUN 14 JAN, 2pm	Bolton Lads & Girls	0	v	2	Manchester Stingers

Scorers
Emma Hunter 35mins, Nicola Armstrong 80mins

Player of the Match
Shelly Hollihead

Match Report
14th December: Stingers V Bolton Lads & Girls
 
10am: Woke up on a glorious rare sunny morning.
 
12.30pm: Arrived @ Bolton 12 hours early
 
1.15pm: The usual team talk from coach, K Harris only to discover Jinny had done a Scooby and Max (naughtily gone out on a school night before a stingers game)
Not only was there the possibility she could have let the entire team down… but worse, far, far worse; she could have let her self down… Jinny failed to take notice of the quotation on our changing room wall…
 
“Only by HARD WORK will you become a WINNER!”
 
1.30pm: The announcement of new striker… Nicola Armstrong
 
2pm: Kick Off
 
2pm - approx 2.29pm: Stingers started the game excellently. Passing well and keeping majority of possession. A few good chances were created by Rachael T and Jinny, with the added support of Scouse and Vicky in midfield providing the much needed through balls. Irish Nic started the game positively putting in a 100% and running laps around the Bolton’s Defence. Stingers had a few shots both on and off target and were extremely unfortunate not to make more of these chances.
 
2.30pm - 2.31pm: GOAL….. Stingers had possession near Bolton’s penalty area, where the ball drifted to the left of the goal, in which most had thought had gone out. Yet Rachael T chased against the keeper and managed to take it past her and cross for Irish Emma to score that much needed 1st and great goal!
 
2.31pm: Stingers 1 Bolton 0
 
2.32pm – 2.45pm: Stingers maintained majority of the play yet Bolton had few cheeky attempts at crossing the ball to the flanks and putting the defence and Mickey under slight pressure on a few occasions. A sliding challenge from Helen outside the Stingers box, re-cooped possession and withheld a possible attack. The 2nd occasion Scooby had to shield the ball from a Bolton attacker and assumed that Mickey would pick up the ball. Due to lack of communication, Mickey cleared the ball only for it to hit Scooby and bounce back towards the goal… The keeper chased and cleared the ball for a corner to Bolton.
 
2.45pm: Half Time (Team Talk) – Coach reflected on the 1st half and gave the team positive feedback.  Due to blustery conditions, the majority of play was down our right flank, leaving acres for Scoo, Scouse and Rachael T on the left. We were encouraged to switch play and maintain pressure upon Bolton.
 
2.45pm – 3.10: Bolton kick off and looked like they wanted to take this lead away from us. Stingers started positively again and managed to play some decent football and once touch football along both flanks. Bolton had the rare occasion of a possible attack and for a short duration maintained possession in Stingers half, creating possible chances in which to draw.
 
3.10pm – 3.45pm: Irish Emma was substituted for Armstrong to make her debut appearance for Stingers. Within minutes of her debut she made her presence known with a strong challenge on Bolton attacker. Not long after, Scooby made a challenge to win the ball and passed it ahead to Armstrong, for her to control the ball, turn and shoot scoring Stingers Second and her 1st Debut Goal!!! Max came on as Jinny was substituted but failed to see much of the ball due to winds forcing the majority of play down our left hand side. Stingers stayed positive and kept Bolton under pressure… Shortly before full time Shelly went down with cramp and had to be substituted for Gwen, yet the referee failed to take control of the situation and allowed Bolton to take a corner before Gwen had even reached her position. The corner was taken quickly and the ball was scrambled from the goal line and cleared away by Vicky.
 
3.45pm: Stingers 2 Bolton 0
 
Effort of the match: Irish Nic for her constant 110% effort, strength, stamina and ability (don’t be getting a big head!!)
 
Idiot of the match: Shelly for her so called cramp attack!! Come on Skipper.  It’s hardly a reason to get substituted is it.

Scooby