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December 2003 results

Sunday 21 December 2003
	Everton St. Domingos 12	-	1 Manchester Stingers
			Rachael Taylor - 35 mins Player of the Match - Anne Tibbetts (gk)

The Team
Kate Whitehead
Rachael Taylor, Rachael "Scouse" Brown, Tess Ptonka
Gwen Davies, Mickey, Lisa Harvey-Smith
Anne Tibbetts (gk)

Match report
Playing for the stingers went from the sublime to the ridiculous in the last match of 2003 as the pre-christmas fixture at Everton was graced by the presence of only eight of the squad. With seasonal good-humour,
captain Gwen decided on a "Christmas tree" formation of 3-3-1. Lisa moved to right-back, leaving the midfield still strong with the two Rachaels and Tess (recently back from injury). Kate was out alone up front, with little
chance of support from the over-stretched midfield. The aim was to work hard and repel the Everton onslaught as best we could.

The goals did inevitably come, despite the best efforts of all eight players. Heads never dropped however, and the stingers still managed some possesion and passing play. The composure of the team in the face of this
difficult situation was unwavering and this culminated in a fantastic goal by Rachael Taylor, who ran the ball into the penalty area and beat the keeper like a professional. The entire team, including Anne, sprinted
up the pitch to join in the pre-agreed 'pile-on' celebration. The odds were always stacked against the yellows however, and the match finished 12-1.

Other results
Buxton P-P Frodsham Rangers
Blacon Youth P-P Glossop North End
Accrington Ladies '91 4-0 Greyhound Gunners
Burnley FC Girls 9-1 Leigh RMI
Bolton Wanderers Reserves 0-5 GMP

Sunday 14 December 2003
	GMP P	-	P Manchester Stingers

Match postponed due to a waterlogged pitch

Other results
Glossop North End P-P Accrington Ladies '91
Frodsham Rangers P-P Blacon Youth
Leigh RMI P-P Bolton Wanderers Reserves
Greyhound Gunners P-P Burnley FC Girls
Buxton P-P Everton St Domingos

Sunday 7 December 2003
	Leigh RMI 4	-	2 Manchester Stingers
			Nichola Absalom - 25 mins Kate Whitehead - 75 mins Player of the Match - Anne Tibbets (gk)

The Team
Kate "Green Fingers " Whitehead, Jane Laycock.
Nichola Absalom (sub-Rachael Taylor 70), Eve, Jackie Ryan, Lisa Harvey-Smith (sub-Tess Ptonka 55),
Gwen Davies, Mickey, Michelle H, Katie White (sub-Emma Flint 60)
Anne Tibbetts (gk)

Match report
Stingers arrived at Leigh with a large squad and the hope of their first win of the season. The match set off to a relatively sedate pace and before long the home team, despite playing uphill, were in the lead. The yellows then took the game to the Leigh half and had a few good chances. Jane attempted a repeat of last week's goal from the edge of the box after a corner was cleared, but it fell straight into the arms of the Leigh keeper. Stingers attacking play was relentless however, and a cross fell to Nic who made an attempt which was spilled by the unfortunate Leigh keeper and rolled over the line. After drawing level the Stingers tightened their defensive marking and kept it 1-1 into the break.

The second half began disappointingly with a Leigh goal from a free-kick only 2 minutes in, taking score to 2-1. This was followed by a series of chances for the yellows, none of which came off. Then Leigh's tactic of hoofing the ball down the pitch took them into the penalty area, where a collision between keeper and defender led to Katie being taken to hospital with a suspected jaw fracture. The game was halted for more than 20 minutes, but then continued with the agreement of both teams. After a substantial team re-shuffle and with the sun setting over the hill the home side scored again, this time from a corner kick. Down but not out, the yellows responded with a hard-earned goal by Kate, set up by Eve who threaded the ball through from the floor after a hard tackle from a Leigh defender.

Other results
Blacon Youth P-P Buxton
Accrington Ladies '91 0-1 Frodsham Rangers
Burnley FC Girls 10-0 Glossop North End
Bolton Wanderers Reserves 4-0 Greyhound Gunners
Everton St Domingos 0-0 GMP