University of Manchester slump to varsity defeat

Two goals from Fionnuala Andrews inspired Manchester Metropolitan University to a memorable varsity win over a disappointing University of Manchester side.

After the last-ditch cancellation of the varsity fixtures set to take place at Moss Lane, the universities ladies teams decided to play their game in the familiar surroundings of the Armitage site, where the Manchester ladies have won four of their five home games during their successful league season. Despite the late relocation, both sides enjoyed a sizeable level of support, with around large crowds spanning either touchline, the Man Met contingent being outnumbered by the vociferous home support.

The home side started brightly and dominated the early proceedings, the central trio of Francesca Self, Sarah Baker and captain Olivia Thackray linking promisingly without really threatening the visitor’s goal. However, for all their early dominance, it was Man Met who created the first real opportunity of the game. Captain Rachel Dunlop, collecting the ball under pressure in her own half, played a fabulous reverse ball to release Sandra Belsmand, but the advancing left-back was hesitant in releasing the unmarked Andrews and the chance was squandered.

Around 20 minutes in, the game began to settle into a familiar pattern, with Manchester passing the ball around nicely and showing patience in the build-up, while the visitors remained happy just to stand off and allow them to play in front of the back four. The game was livened somewhat, however, when, on 25 minutes, a marauding surge from Natalie Robinson earned the home side a corner over on the far side. The resulting delivery was only half-cleared to the feet of Sarah Baker, who was allowed all the time in the world to square the ball to Chloe Tomlinson, who completed a simple finish.

With the first goal of the game against them, and the increasingly boisterous home fans continuing to make their presence felt, Man Met may have been forgiven for showing a lack of adventure in the latter stages of the first half. However, as the home team again toiled in possession, it was the visitors who began to force the issue. First, Amy Pipe beat right-back Nicola Cooper and saw her teasing cross cleared off the line, before goalkeeper Beth Evans showed good awareness to intercept an incisive through ball from Vicky Frisby.

Then, just moments later, another hopeful through ball pierced the two centre-halves to find Andrews on the edge of the area. Beating three chasing defenders to the ball, she flicked it beyond Evans and into the area, the goalkeeper clattering into the Man Met forward and leaving her sprawled out on the edge of the area. Whether Evans managed to get a slight touch on the ball is unclear, but the referee certainly thought so, as play was waved on with the keeper fortunate to escape punishment.

Any injustice was immediately forgotten, however, as the visitors finally got their breakthrough on the stroke of half-time. Manchester centre-half Laura Gilroy threw herself bravely in the path of a thunderous drive from Frisby, but, from the resulting corner, the hosts failed to clear and Andrews was there at the back post to slot the ball home.

After a much-needed half time interval, the home side returned a rejuvenated force, with Thackray beginning to dominate in the congested midfield area. The enforced substitution of forward Jess Casey, meanwhile, had brought Chloe Mapp into play, and, having been anonymous in the first half, she began to exert her influence in the second, providing a much needed link between midfield and attack as Manchester started to make inroads into the Man Met defence.

In terms of chances however, Man Met still had the edge. Central defensive pairing of Jess Burns and Delcie Thankachar meanwhile maintained good discipline in preventing the likes of Thackray and Mapp from exerting their influence in behind the away team’s back four.

At the other end, meanwhile, Cooper and Southern were still struggling to contend with Pipe, whose persistence on the left flank finally paid off midway through the second half. After breaking free from the attentions of Southern, she crossed neatly into the feet of Summerleigh Watson, who, with back to goal, laid the ball out towards the edge of the area. There, once again, was Andrews, who displayed her potency once more as she curled the ball beautifully into the top corner.

Still, the Manchester girls remained true to their, patient, passing game, but within a matter of minutes the result was sealed for good measure. The latest in a series of corners found the irrepressible Andrews yet again, although this time the final touch appeared to come off a rather unfortunate home defender, who stumbled backwards over the line while trying to shield the ball from the Man Met forward.

With the best part of twenty minutes remaining, Manchester continued to push forward, and they were almost rewarded for their efforts when Sophie Grace-Girdle drew a superb fingertip stop from keeper Sophie Grimmet. However, the Man Met defence remained firm, and when the referee finally blew for full time, pandemonium duly ensued amongst both players and supporters, many of whom rushed onto the pitch as they celebrated getting one over the ‘redbricks’ at last.