| 1st Round of the Cup | ||||||
| SUN 14 OCT, 2pm | Burnley and Borrowdale | 1 | v | 5 | Manchester Stingers | |
Scorers
Jinny Ursell (10, 85)
Victoria Smith (28, 37, 70)
Player of the Match
Victoria Smith
Match Report
An overcast autumn morning saw the Stingers travel to Burnley in the
first round of the League Cup, with the yellows rested after having
a week off in the League, and the return of injured stiker Aisha as
well as the introduction of newbie Newman at centre half.
The Stingers started off rather sprightly with pressure piled on the Burnley defence early on in the game. Fantastic one touch passing in the middle of the pitch provided the game with a fluency that delighted the supporters on the side lines, and tough defending by the back line frustrated the opposition. In a bid to push forward the midfield was on occasion left open with Burnley’s number 7 dictating play very effectively. However, that threat was quickly snuffed out after a few harsh words from the Gaffer.
Breakthrough for the yellows came after 15 minutes with a fantastic through-ball from Scouse to Aisha, who then laid it off for Jinny on her right to finish with a crisp strike into the far left corner; 1-0 to the Stingers. Several chances fell to striker Aisha, but just couldn’t get her feet on the ball. However, in an attempt to rise to meet a very inviting cross from Rachel from the left of the pitch, she was pushed in the back and awarded a penalty. Up stepped Vicky valiantly to convert; 2-0 to Stingers. Burnley had spells where they slipped though the middle of the field and put pressure on the Yellows’ back four, but they were more than capable of dealing with any threats, and Jane was up to the task of keeping any balls that crept through away from her precious goal. More pressure from the Yellows resulted in a sublime chip from outside the box by Vicky, which seemed to linger in the air for an eternity, and left the Burnley keeper scrambling to get a hand to it. Top left corner made it 3-0 to the Stingers just before half time.
Some fighting talk from the Gaffers of both sides meant the second
half started just as the first half ended, with Burnley riled up and
stepping up the pressure and Coach urging the Stingers to stay focused.
Vicky made it 4-0 and a hat trick from a corner, which she attacked
with vigour and might and left the Burnley keeper at a loss with a
70 mph header (well, it looked like it!).
Burnley refused to give up and fought hard, and managed to break through
the Yellows’ otherwise impenetrable defence with a shot from
just inside the box that just sailed over Jane in goal.
After 60 minutes, Coach made some changes to the team, taking off Aisha
and hat-trick hero Vicky who had taken a slight knock to the ankle.
Dee and newbie Jo replaced them with fresh legs and more pressure.
Fatigue kicked in towards the latter part of the game, but both sides
continued to play hard, and the Stingers were rewarded on 80 minutes
when midfielder Gracie ran into the box and unleashed a stinger, which
the keeper managed to parry towards her goal, and ever present goal-poacher
Jinny was on hand to make sure it crossed the line. Final substitution,
and Nat was brought on to fortify the defence and maintain the impressive
score-line. Full time score was 5-1 to the mighty Stingers, reflecting
our great team spirit and beautiful football – well done Yellows!
Aisha Hayatuddini