The Team
Kate Whitehead, Rachael Taylor.
Lisa Harvey-Smith, Eve (sub-Jackie Ryan, 45), Jane Laycock (sub-Karen Harris, 45), Rachael "Scouse" Brown,
Katie "Fingers" White, Maggie, Mickey, Emma Flint
Anne Tibbetts (gk)

Match report
The Stingers have come along in leaps and bounds in the past few weeks, playing a better quality of football and getting stronger in the air. The team showed a strength of character today, holding the Glossop side to a 1-1 draw and being unfortunate not to make that a winning scoreline. In fact the Stingers dominated the first half almost completely, attacking strongly in the middle and staying firmly entrenched in the visitor's half. Eve showed strength and commitment in her debut match and quickly got her name on the scoring sheet after dribbling past two players and blasting the ball from 30 yards out past the Glossop keeper. Ten minutes later another Stingers strike was intercepted by a defender's arm and a penalty was awarded to the yellows. Jane stepped up to do the honours but it wasn't to be her day. Her powerful shot was saved well by the Glossop keeper and there was no further reward for the Stingers' passing play.

The visitors came out for the second half more energised, but despite a couple of substitutions the Yellows seemed more tired and couldn't get the momentum forward as successfully as they had in the first half. This showed when the visitors scored on the break, the Stingers defence partially unsupported by the midfielders and taken by suprise by a fast run from the Glossop striker. After this equaliser the match was very tense, the Stingers desperate for a goal on the one hand, but equally desperate not to concede. There was relief at the final whistle, but also disappointment for some as a win was within our grasp.

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

The Team
Nichola Absalom, Kate Whitehead
Maxine, Rachael Brown, Gwen Davies, Lisa Harvey-Smith
Emma Flint, Maggie, Mickey, Siaran (Sub:Scooby 65min)
Anne (GK)

Match report
Save breaking into Iambic Pentameter, it is becoming difficult to know how to articulate the various features of the latest of a long string of Stingers defeats in a new and interesting manner. So here is the gist of the game, as a Haiku:
Early shaky start
Quick improvement, good play, but
One goal down, then two.

Second half, fight back
Great runs forward, but no goal
Bad luck for Stingers.

In the first half there was some excellent passing play from the Stingers, who once again had a depleted squad. Kate and Nic made some excellent runs on goal, supported by wingers Max and Lisa but the goal never came. The
main point of attack was in the centre of the pitch, where any space was capitalised upon by Phoenix. The 0-6 scoreline flattered the visitors, but we wish them all the best for their cup run.

The Team
Rachael Taylor, Kate Whitehead
Nichola Absalom, Rachael Brown, Katie "fingers" White, Lisa Harvey-Smith,
Emma Flint, Mickey, Maggie, Siaran
Anne (gk)

Match report
With the absence of team captain Karen Harris and several other regular players, the yellows had a squad of just 11 players to face Buxton at the Silverlands stadium. After a long absence, Nic and Kate were back in action and Siaran was also called up to bolster the defence. The game was competitive and physical, with plenty of good challenges being made in every area of the pitch. It remained goal-less until a scramble in the Stingers box led to a rather fortunate
goal for the home side. The yellows fought hard for the remainder of the first half to get the equaliser they so wanted and deserved. An excellent ball into the box from Rachael was chased by Kate and Lisa but put just wide of the post.

The second half saw end-to-end football with attack and counter-attack. The Stingers were unable to capitalise on chances, hitting the bar and having a close range shot saved by the Buxton keeper. A corner-kick in the dying moments zipped accross the face of the goal, but was cleared by the Buxton defence. It was a different kind of game for the Yellows, who defended valiantly and so deserved a point. I suppose we will just have to wait until lady luck smiles upon us.

Other results
Burnley FC Girls 6-1 Accrington Ladies '91
Blacon Youth 1-1 Bolton Wanderers Reserves
Frodsham Rangers 1-5 GMP
Glossop North End 2-0 Leigh RMI
Everton St Domingos 21-0 Greyhound Gunners

The Team
Rachael Taylor (sub - Lisa Harvey-Smith 65 mins),
Karen Harris (c), Maxine, Rachael Brown, Jinny Ursell (sub - Scooby 65 mins),
Gwen Davies
Emma Flint, Mickey, Michelle Hollihead, Kate White
Anne (gk)

Match report
The Stingers rightly began confidently against second-from-bottom Blacon Youth and within ten minutes both Karen Harris and Rachael Taylor had had good attempts on goal. Both teams had fairly equal possesion of the ball but when the first goal came from the visitors after 20 minutes and it all began to look sadly familiar for the yellows. A solid counter-attack ensued however, and an excellent team build-up led to a well-deserved goal for Rachel Taylor. Just as the Stingers had got back into the game, the visitors edged in front just before the half-time whistle in the form of a lucky free-kick,which soared high over the head of a powerless Stingers keeper. The scoreline was a respectable 1-2 at half-time.

The second half was played at a slower pace and was gridlocked until another spirited counter-attack came to fruition. Karen ran the ball down the right-wing and smacked it cleanly into the top corner of the Blacon net, provoking rapturous celebrations both on and off the pitch. Blacon replied soon after with a super goal from at least 25 yards out. They hammered the nail in the coffin with a further goal after 75 minutes. The Yellows were unable to capitalise on chances in the latter stages of the game and it finished a very disappointing 2-4.