Women’s Football 1sts 2

Leeds Met Carnegie 2nds 3

A brace from Mamz was not enough to lead Women’s Football 1sts to victory as they slipped to a 3-2 defeat against Leeds Met Carnegie 2nds.

Two goals in five second half minutes turned around the deficit of a single goal at the break, but UCLan let the lead slip and a late goal saw the visitors move level on points in the BUCS Northern division 1A table.

The home side dominated possession in the opening half, but found little reward and had to be continually wary of Leeds Mets’ lightning counter attacks.

The closest UCLan came to breaking the deadlock was their first chance on five minutes.  Rebecca Grocott’s lofted effort almost capitalised on a defence in disarray, but was cleared as it arched towards an unguarded goal.

The UCLan striker was a threat throughout and drove narrowly wide moments later as her side looked to press home their opening advantage.

However, their opponents’ quick strikers threatened to expose a high defensive line and, following a couple of early warnings, took the lead with a quarter of the match gone.

A defensive mix-up allowed the Leeds striker to scamper down the left wing and curl the ball over goalkeeper Laura Miller and into the far corner from the edge of the area.

The goal gave Leeds more of a foothold in the game, but Julie Spence’s spinning volley on 32 minutes could easily have levelled proceedings after Mamz’s cross found her free in the six yard box.

After a disjointed opening period, UCLan wasted no time in equalising inside two minutes of the second half.  Spence was quickest to react after a defensive error and freed Mamz to poke the ball under the onrushing goalkeeper.

The turnaround was complete seven minutes later.  The right winger Mamz once again found herself in space and one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but opted for a lob.  The goalkeeper got a hand to it, but was unable to prevent the ball from going in off the post.

Following a sloppy start to the second half, the goal sparked Leeds in to life on the hour mark and it took two tremendous saves from Miller to keep the hard-fought lead intact.  The goalkeeper showed lightning reflexes to tip a shot around the post with a strong one-handed save before being equally alert to save with her feet from the resulting corner.

Miller could do little about the Leeds Met equaliser which arrived on 66 minutes.  Some slick passing in central midfield released the left winger who burst into the area before placing the ball into the far corner.

A share of the spoils would probably have been a fair result, but Leeds Met snatched victory five minutes from time.  A snap shot from the edge of the area left Miller motionless as it went in off the inside of the post to ensure the three points would be heading to Leeds.

By Liam Geraghty

Deflation was visible on the faces of the Men’s Football 1sts after a 5-1 defeat to table-topping Sheffield Hallam 1sts at UCLan Sports Arena on Wednesday.

The majority of the Hallam goals were scored in the first-half on a typically chilly afternoon as UCLan found themselves 4-0 down by the interval, despite competing well in the early stages of the game.

It was the visitors who created the first clear-cut chance with barely five minutes on the clock after their headed effort was cleared off the line by UCLan’s Daniel Morgan.

The hosts then came close on the ten-minute mark when Joe Shelmerdine struck a beautifully curling free kick, thumping the Hallam post before rolling out for a goal-kick.

The first of the goals came after Sheffield’s Callum Ward was brought down in the area – leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Striker Matt Wooley then converted to give the visitors the lead with 19 minutes of the game played.

UCLan came out battling from the restart with Sheffield having goalkeeper Liam Flynn to thank for keeping the score as it was after a superb half-volley by Jake Forshaw was tipped over the bar from 25 yards out. The resulting corner was once again saved by the Hallam keeper after a strong header from defender Will Monks.

Minutes later the hosts were ruing their missed chances after Hallam midfielder Zach Bayarch nodded in from close range after a well delivered corner kick to double his side’s lead.

UCLan heads then seemed to drop as the frustration crept in, however little could have been done to prevent the visitors third of the match. A floated corner found its way to Dan Fradley, who half-volleyed the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net from the edge of the area, leaving keeper Matthew Bell with no chance.

Attacks from the home side on the opposition goal were restricted to long shots in the remaining minutes of the first half as the visitors began to get a real hold on the game.

On the stroke of half-time the fourth Hallam goal arrived after a great first touch and strike by Wooley could only see Bell get fingertips to the ball as it bounced in off the post into the back of the net.

UCLan came out after the break in a far more attacking fashion; closing down players quicker and using the wings much more productively to create chances.

On 50 minutes a strong penalty claim was turned down by the referee after stand out performer for the hosts, Joe Lolley, made a darting run into the area and looked to have been dragged down by a Hallam defender.

The game saw a lot of the ball in the middle of the park for a large remainder of the second half as UCLan began to break up the Sheffield attacks, with both keepers at each end having little to deal with. A neat finish from right back, Daniel Dasololu, on 75 minutes reduced the scoreline to 1-4 after a well delivered corner kick; giving the hosts a chance of making a game of it.

The home side were unlucky to not grab a second five minutes later after some last ditch defending prevented them from hitting the back of the net as they entered their best spell of the game.

Cruelly, it was Sheffield who grabbed the sixth and final goal of the match, as the result of another corner kick. This time the set-piece was headed home by defender Sam Dave, to seal the victory for the away side.

UCLan captain, Matthew Bell said afterwards, “We gave them too much respect”.

“We were much better in the second half, but we really need to concentrate on conceding less and today we just weren’t good enough”.

By Joe Angove

UCLan 3rd’s followed up their embarrassing loss to the 4th team last week with another defeat, this time at the hands of Salford in the Conference Cup.

Salford are in the division below UCLan and goals from Matthew Collum and Craig O’Neil looked to have given the home side an expected win. But a late Salford equaliser ensured that it went the distance with the underdogs winning on penalties, despite being reduced to 10 men in extra time.

Despite the near perfect playing conditions the game began in a very scrappy manner with neither side being able to get a foot on the ball. UCLan skipper James Makki looked to be the biggest threat, the pacey winger getting in behind the Salford back line on a few occasions.

Inevitably it was Makki who had the first sighting of goal in the match on 20 minutes. A long ball forward from right back Steve Yates saw Makki baring down on goal, only for his shot to be blocked by a heroic Salford centre back.

Salford posed very little threat in the first half, resorting to long range efforts which UCLan goalkeeper Tom Massey had little trouble in dealing with. As the first half progressed UCLan began to gain control with wingers Makki and Ross Dennison causing the visitors’ defence problems.

On 26 minutes Dennison’s well struck 25-yard free kick whistled just over the bar with the keeper beaten as the home side looked to make their superiority pay.

 UCLan’s pressure finally told ten minutes before the half time whistle. Striker Matthew Collum showed how clinical he can be after being fairly anonymous until this point. After latching on to a ball played into the right channel he skipped inside the Salford left back before unleashing a ferocious drive across the stranded goalkeeper into the far corner of the net.

It was nearly 2-0 seconds before the break after the increasingly influential Dennison striking the woodwork with a looping free kick.

With a goal lead at half time and Salford looking toothless in attack, a place in the next round looked assured.

Salford came out in the second half with a renewed vigour and needed just a minute to get back on level terms. Out of nothing, midfielder Matthew McDermott found himself through on goal, needing no second invitation to slot past Massey to stun a previously redundant UCLan defence.

It went from bad to worse for UCLan a minute later when adamant penalty appeals were turned away by the referee despite it looking as though Collum had been felled in the area.

Salford’s revival continued as they continued to look more dangerous. Their big striker found himself through on goal on 53 minutes, only to muster a weak shot on goal which Massey easily fielded.

After a lively start to the second half the game began to resume its scrappy nature with several passes from both sides going astray.

The next action of note came on 70 minutes when goalscorer Collum was found by the dangerous Dennison in space. He surprised everyone by shooting early on his unfavoured left foot. The striker was incredibly unlucky to see his effort come back off the post with the keeper left grasping at thin air.

Salford failed to heed this warning and were made to pay a minute later.

On 71 minutes the ball broke to substitute Craig O’Neil who lashed the ball left footed past the Salford keeper’s despairing dive from just outside the box.

This looked to have won it for the home side until three minutes from time. The UCLan defence finally caved in to a barrage of Salford pressure when they failed to deal with a long ball in to the box. It fell kindly to striker Loris who poked the ball into the top corner to force 30 minutes of extra time.

The extra time period only brought about one incident of note but it was a big one. After a contentious offside decision was given against his team, a Salford centre back went too far in his dissent, being shown a straight red card for foul and abusive language.

UCLan failed to make the man advantage count meaning that the tie went all the way to penalties.

In a cruel twist of fate, man of the match Ross Dennison saw the first penalty of the shoot out saved as the keeper got down well to block his well struck effort.

The Salford penalties were all well placed, leaving Massey no chance before UCLan’s 4th penalty was skied by the centre back. This gave Salford savour Loris a chance to enhance his hero status by scoring the winning penalty which he took with aplomb, sending Massey the wrong way.

The result sees Salford march on to the next round while UCLan 3rds must stop the rot by avoiding a 3rd successive defeat next week.

By Will Rivers

Women’s Football 2nds were on the wrong end of a 5-1 score-line against an impressive Edge Hill Women’s 1sts in the Northern Conference Cup at the UCLan Sports Arena on Wednesday, despite battling hard for the duration of the game.

Edge Hill looked to push forward straight from the kick-off with some impressive passing moves to put the home defence under immediate pressure which they dealt with well.

However, on the ten minute mark UCLan found themselves 1-0 down after a well distributed ball over the top from the Edge Hill midfield found striker Lauren Horsefield;  putting her clean through on goal, striking the ball just to the right of keeper Laura Miller and giving the visitors an early advantage.

UCLan picked themselves up and started to play some impressive football which questioned the Edge Hill defence. Captain Stacy Partridge came close with a delightful curling free-kick just outside the box, edging just wide of the post on 22 minutes.

The hosts maintained the pressure and tested the Edge Hill keeper for the first time with an impressive effort from Mel Metcalfe after the number eight’s great run down the right wing.

The game began to feel quite edgy as both teams battled for possession just after the mid-point of the first half with a lot of the play in the middle of the park. But it was Edge Hill who began to produce the clear cut-chances, most notably Harriet Goon; who found herself with the goal at her mercy after a long shot had been parried by the home keeper into her path but the striker fired just wide.

On 40 minutes Edge Hill extended their lead after a free kick from just inside the UCLan half was delivered into the area falling to the feet of Anna Quintaid who made no mistake, powering the ball into the right hand corner to make it 2-0 to the visitors.

Edge Hill once again began the second half in an attacking fashion, producing some swift passing up and down the flanks and this created all sorts of problems for the UCLan defence. A majestic ball from captain Harriet Lewis found Chelsea Goon who steadied herself to rifle the ball into the far left of the goal, increasing the score-line to 3-0.

UCLan immediately hit straight back on 57 minutes after a well delivered free kick just left of the penalty area resulted in a messy clearance at the back which kindly fell to Stacy Partridge who finished well to lift give her side a chance of producing a  comeback.

Minutes later chances of a UCLan comeback were struck down after a superb long range strike from Edge Hill’s stand-out performer, Harriet Lewis, struck the inside of the post on its way into the back of the net.

UCLan continued to battle bravely into the latter stages of the game before Goon got her second of the game for Edge Hill on 82 minutes, sliding the ball past the oncoming Laura Miller just inside the penalty area to make it 5-1 to the visitors.

Captain for UCLan Woman’s 2nd Stacy Partridge said she was “happy with the work rate of her team”.

She added: “We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, they are a league above us and we had a few players out, but it just wasn’t our day again”.

By Joe Angove

Goal scorers – UCLan- Stacy Partridge

Edge Hill – Lauren Horsefield, Anna Quintaid, Chelsea Goon (2), Harriet Lewis

The 3rds began the game with some early pressure but the first chance fell to the 4ths in the fourth minute when Adam McLoughlin brought a fine save from the 3rds goalkeeper.

Five minutes later the deadlock was broken as a great piece of vision from Andy Harrison found Max Rippington just outside of the area and he made no mistake with his finish after coolly rounding the keeper to put the 4ths into the lead.

The 3rds responded to the goal with a decent spell of pressure but failed to create any clear cut chances as the 4ths defence held their own. After a quick counter attack from the 4ths, McLoughlin found himself one-on-one with the keeper once again and comfortable slid the ball into the right hand corner of the net to put his team 2-0 up.

Brimming with confidence the 4ths flooded forward with another attack and after a delightfully delivered corner on 26 minutes, Jocobo Manso found himself unmarked in the six-yard box to head home and extend his sides somewhat shock lead.

With frustration now settling in, the 3rds maintained a good spell of pressure but yet again failed to create many decent chances. The 4ths took advantage when they hit the back of the net following some poor defending which allowed McLoughlin to latch onto a loose ball and neatly finish to make it a resounding 4-0 in the 39^th minute.

By this point the stuffing had been completely knocked out of the 3rds and there looked to be no way back, however a mix up in defence gifted them a goal in first half injury time. James Bonvini misplaced his pass straight to 3rds number nine Dennison who hammered home to give the 3rds a glimmer of hope.

The 3rds come out strong in the second half creating a number of chances but their opponents defended bravely, although it came at a cost as their influential midfield captain Josh Rice suffered a head injury and was substituted on 65 minutes.

After striking the cross-bar minutes before, it was Andy Bartholomew who reduced the scoreline to 4-2. A long shot was parried by the 4ths goalkeeper and the ball worked its way to Bartholomew for a simple tap-in and suddenly the comeback was on.

The pressure grew on the 4ths and in the 85^th minute Dennison get his second of the game from an in-swinging corner by substitute De Luka. However it was too little too late for the 3rds as the 4ths picked up a vital win against their league and university rivals.

Delighted 4ths Captain Josh Rice said: “We showed great character and kept going until the end. Our first half performance was superb and it shows we have the quality to win the league and now we are getting back up the table to where we should be”.

By Joe Angove

The game started off in scrappy fashion in the first 10 minutes, with the ball played a lot in the middle of the park, where both sides were finding it difficult to conjure up any sort of goal scoring opportunity.

UCLan were just starting to make their way into the game shortly after when a good ball played into the box from Lauren Close was met by the head of Kirsty Smith but unfortunately  the ball sailed just wide of the target.

This good spell for the home side didn’t last long when Liverpool’s  number 11 and star player broke forward down the left wing, drilled in a cross only for Laura Ross to let it trickle past her for an easy tap in and a one-nil lead.

UCLan nearly responded well when top goalscorer Caroline Gascoyne weaved past the Liverpool defence, only to lose possession at the vital moment.

The lead was doubled just before the break, as poor organisation at the back produced lacklustre defending from a free kick which was once again tapped home by the away side.

The second half started as it had ended with Liverpool notching a third, when the dangerous number 11 once again created havoc for UCLan by receiving a short pass from a corner and sweeping the ball into the top of the goal.

UCLan this time responded well from conceding and when a long ball was played down the Liverpool goalkeepers’ throat, miscommunication with the defender allowed Gascoyne to nip in, make it 3-1 and game on.

The glimmer of hope didn’t last long as Liverpool scored another two goals and the number 11 completed her brilliant hat-trick, with a tidy left foot finish and a scrappy tap-in after a weaving run.

Before the final whistle, Laura Ross was redeemed for her earlier mistake in goal after she replaced an injured outfield player and scored a cracking finish from 18 yards out, when once again the goalkeeper and defender had a nightmare at the back.

After the final whistle, UCLan’s captain, Stacy Partridge reflected upon the disappointing defeat by saying:

“We struggled for the most part, and we didn’t have our strongest side, however the girls did battle to the end.”

“We’ll have to start again, and train hard for the next game and hopefully get some players back.”

By Chris Kynoch

UCLan Women’s Football 1sts blew away Teesside University with a 6 – 2 victory at the UCLan Sports Arena.

Becky Grocott, Fiona Berry and Mel Bartley all got their names on the score sheet in a game full of chances which could have gone into double figures.

UCLan took the lead in the 14^th minute when Grocott converted from close range after Tallie Bright had beaten two players down the left-hand-side.

The lead should have been doubled in the 18^th minute when Mamz Emosivwe headed wide with nobody challenging her at the far post.

However, a second goal soon followed in the 21^st minute when Grocott won a free kick by the corner flag and Fiona Berry rose highest to head home Bartley’s cross.

Teesside almost responded in a matter of seconds when striker Jordan Atkinson volleyed against the post after finding herself in acres of space.

And winger Karen Jackson did pull Teesside back into the game on 26 minutes with a looping shot which gave stand in 2^nd team keeper Laura Miller no chance.

UCLan responded by restoring their two-goal advantage in the 32^nd minute after Emosivwe drew a free kick on the edge of the area. Bartley stepped up with a powerful strike that split the Teesside wall and found the far corner.

Grocott then added her second of the game in the 36^th minute with a close range finish following a neat flick-on from Bright.

Teesside should have replied a minute later but Hannah Ellis blazed over the bar with an open goal beckoning.

Grocott then had a hat-trick presented on a plate by Teesside defender Claire Streeter who headed straight to the unmarked striker for a tap-in.

There was some consolation for the visitors as Ellis made up for her earlier miss with a curling shot into the top corner of Miller’s net.

UCLan completed the rout in the 87^th minute as Grocott tucked away her fourth from Joanne Phelan’s through ball.

The four-goal striker said: “It felt good and it was good to win.

“I did not expect to score four goals in a single game.

“I have scored six goals this season and I’m aiming to get into double figures.

“I think my target is to get ten”.

By Sam Gilliland

By Dave Humphreys

Hello and welcome to “The Referee’s a Journo.” A look back at all things football from the man in black’s perspective.

Moor Park
UCLan SUL is back in full swing now with fixtures going ahead on both Moor Park and Ashton Park. Goals are flying in across both divisions with teams starting to assert themselves on the league. This makes for an exciting season across both divisions that will hopefully be hotly contested like last year.

From a refereeing point of view, it’s great to see more student referees! In my role as co-ordinator for the Moor Park league and as a referee, it’s been a great way to get to know new people, get along with the teams and start up some banter. At one point last year, I was the only student referee but this year we’re focussing on making the SUL a league ran for students by students.

This week though, I wasn’t in the middle so for the first time since we started the SUL, I took the opportunity to take in all five games and honestly, I missed my whistle! I know a as a referee that I miss being out in the middle as much as players who are sidelines miss being in the thick of the action! Hopefully I’ll be back on duty next week!

Just a quick footnote too! The University only has a certain amount of money and a certain amount of equipment, we do the best we can with what we’ve got. I take down equipment that I’m given by the SU. So please don’t start hurling abuse at me when I haven’t got what you need. We gave you pegs to use for nets last year and told you to keep them. You pay your money for the nets we give you, the corner flags, the referees. We provide pegs and footballs when we have access to them!

My game
Despite no game midweek, I was out in the middle last Sunday, Syndicate Trust Youth Trophy 1st Round as part of the LEP Sunday Football League. Under 18s games can prove to be tricky as there’s a lot of testosterone and emotions flying around all at once so even the highest tolerance levels are tested.

From a match control point of view, the game ran smoothly and there were no real flash points and there were some really talented footballers on show. Naturally, there was some whinging and moaning that comes with footballers from all ages and the occasional childish appeals and gripes towards me that I brushed aside with my Dad’s favourite line: “Act your age, not your shoe size!”

Now despite having the game under control for 90 minutes, it could have all gone badly after the first 15 seconds when something that all football fans enjoy seeing, the referee getting hit with the ball!

Yes, yours truly took it square and true right in the face from 4 yards. Now I don’t know if you’ve been out playing football in Preston on a Sunday morning before, but I can tell you it can be mighty cold and when a ball is coming for your chilly face at speed, there’s not much you can do except grin and bear it!

I did warn the offender jokingly that if he hit me again, he’d be cautioned for it!

Back home this weekend for an Everton Academy fixture which is always something to look forward to! Hopefully no collisions with the ball though!

Officials under the Spotlight.
It’s time again to look back at some of last week’s Premier League action with penalties being our focus this time out.

1. Norwich’s equaliser v Blackburn.
No doubt a game changing decision this one, Blackburn felt aggrieved after referee Anthony Taylor gave a spot kick against Steven N’Zonzi after he was judged to have handled the ball. Bradley Johnson whips in a centre, N’Zonzi goes up with two Norwich players and it could be argued he’s fouled in the process. In his appeals, the ball strikes N’Zonzi on the arm and Taylor points to the spot. For me there’s no intention to handle, as N’Zonzi doesn’t know where the ball is, therefore this is not deliberate handball and in my opinion – No Penalty.

2. Liverpool’s opening goal against West Brom.
On first look, I disagreed with assistant referee, Gary Beswick’s decision to put his flag across his chest and signal penalty to referee Lee Mason, but that is why Beswick is a Premier League assistant referee and I’m not!

What Mr Beswick sees and most of us don’t, is Jerome Thomas sticking his leg across Luis Suarez and taking out the tricky Uruguyan. If you don’t believe me, watch the slo-mo replays! I’d love to know your thoughts on this, but for me: Penalty.

3.Vincent Kompany on Kevin Doyle – City v Wolves
Stuart Attwell is on the Select Group of referees for a reason and proved it by correctly awarding a penalty and dismissing the Manchester City captain last Saturday.

As Kevin Doyle charges in for the rebound of Guedioura shot that proved too much for Joe Hart to handle, Kompany bundles Doyle over, denying him an obvious goal scoring opportunity (DOGSO) and is promptly dismissed and the penalty awarded. No questions about that one!

4. Szczesny’s yellow.
For me, Andre Marriner has been one of the best Premier League referees for the best part of a season and a half and he got another decision right here. The Arsenal keeper came charging out at Ashley Cole as he bombed towards goal and takes him out. Some would have rushed straight for the red card but I believe Djourou is about to come over and challenge Cole, plus there are three more men in red ready to prevent an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity. Graham Poll in his column, has suggested otherwise. One of us went to a World Cup, one hasn’t… yet, maybe!

5. Demba Ba: Hero to Zero, then back to hero again!
Two correctly awarded penalties here, one for either sides. The first one for Stoke City as Newcastle’s hero of the night Demba Ba charged into the back of Peter Crouch, Mike Dean had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Ba would make amends later on, dispatching Newcastle’s own spot kick as Robert Huth clearly pushed Leon Best to win a header. No arguments here either.

And finally…
Massive respect to Billy Sharp. The Doncaster striker played and scored two days following the death of his baby son. Are you watching Mr Tevez?

That’s it for this week! Would love to hear your thoughts on all things football. You can get me on Facebook, Tumblr and my more professional blog here. For all things SUL, my email is DHumphreys1@uclan.ac.uk

Thanks for reading!

Men’s Football 1sts slipped to a 2-0 home defeat to Leeds Metropolitan 1sts as they failed to follow up their thrilling opening day victory.

After triumphing 4-3 away in Liverpool the previous week, UCLan rarely threatened to open their account in this fixture as they limped to a dour loss.

Two first half goals killed off any threat from the home side, who rallied after the break but made little impression.

Leeds Met took the lead on ten minutes from the penalty spot. The referee had underlined his authority in the opening minutes and took a hardline approach to shirtpulling and dissent.

UCLan’s Spanish defender Nacho did not heed the warnings and was penalised for shirtpulling from a corner. The Leeds Met player cooly slotted the ball in the opposite corner to goalkeeper Matthew Bell’s dive to give his side a lead they would rarely look like surrendering.

The goal highlighted Leeds Mets’ early dominance as they dominated midfield and isolated the UCLan attack of Joe Shelmerdine and Joe Lolley.

The wiry duo were often outmuscled and had little chance to use their pace against the strong defence. The frustration got to Shelmerdine and the UCLan man squared up to a defender off the ball, but escaped punishment.

Problems in defence also haunted the home side and their small full-backs struggled to compete with the Leeds outfit’s powerful wingers. Despite a reshuffle, the problem saw UCLan fall further behind.

On the stroke of half-time, a free-kick was struck towards the back post where right-back Ashley Brierley was caught in a mismatch of height and the Leeds winger had the simple task of heading into the far corner to leave UCLan 45 minutes to save themselves.

The hosts improved their play in an even second period, but rarely threatened to wrestle control of the scoreline from the visitors.

The highlight of a chance-shy half came five minutes from time when UCLan’s Seamus Kelleher rattled the bar with a ferocious speculative effort, but there were few other creditable attempts at altering the scoreline.

A trip to York St Johns next week will offer the chance to get back on track as the Football 1sts aim to challenge for the BUCS 1A title.

By Liam Geraghty

UCLan Women’s Football 1sts 3-4 Liverpool John Moores

After last week’s 3-0 defeat against Durham, the women’s firsts also lost their second match of the season. After a thrilling match the final score was 4-3 in favour of the visitors, Liverpool John Moores University with UCLan throwing away a 3-1 half-time lead.

The match got off to close start with both sides creating chances through good-looking combinations. After only four minutes, John Moores had a big opportunity but Jess Tsao couldn’t keep her strike down. Two minutes later UCLan got their first big chance but the John Moores’ goalkeeper prevented Rebecca McEwan from opening the scoring.

It took until the 21st minute before UCLan could finally manage to convert their superiority into a goal. After a one-two with Julie Spence, Rebecca Topping scored with a powerful effort in the far corner. Four minutes later UCLan doubled the score when midfielder Mel Bartley scored an astonishing goal from about 35 yards.

UCLan didn’t enjoy the two goal lead for long because in the 29th minute, John Moores pulled one back after Tsao hammered the ball past UCLan goalkeeper Danielle Gibbons. After that goal the hosts started to look a little less confident. Poor decisions on the field led to bad passes and loss of possession and they were very lucky that Tsao missed an open goal after going past the UCLan keeper.

But five minutes before half time, UCLan got back their two-goal advantage when Topping scored her second goal of the match by surprising the goalkeeper at the near post.

After half-time John Moores had the better of the game. UCLan were very lucky that the opposition missed two chances from only a yard out. But in the 57th minute, they brought the score back to 3-2 when Danielle Turner scored with a free kick from just outside of the box. Just two minutes after that McEwan had a great chance to make it 4-2 but she failed when one-on-one with John Moores’ goalkeeper.

After that the visitors started to look for the equaliser which they then found in the 70th minute. Turner made her second and John Moores’ third by scoring in the far corner.

With twenty minutes left both sides continued to look for a late winner. But UCLan goalkeeper Gibbons was a constant obstacle and saved a certain goal in the 84th minute by keeping out a header from a good John Moores cross.

But in the last minute, UCLan conceded the winning goal when Jess Tsao put the ball in the far corner, out of reach of Gibbons putting John Moores into the lead just before the final whistle.

No points out of a possible six wasn’t what captain Gibbons hoped for at the beginning of the season. But she remains positive and said: “The only way we can go is up, We just have to work hard and never give up.”

By Derk Lucas