Salford went with ten players to the Brook Vale ground in Liverpool on Sunday, to a game against Crosby Stuart Ladies.
This is a game Salford should have won; it started with a lively Salford, good passing, tackling and enthusiasm. Within two minutes they should have scored Kim hustled the ball off a midfield player knocked the ball back to Charlotte who flicked the ball to Anne. Anne launched the ball up field to Chloe who weaved her way through the defence and hit a brilliant ball at goal but was denied by the quick reactions of the goalkeeper, and that was how the game went, until forty minutes into the game Anne broke the deadlock. The move started at the back with Salford’s defence playing some good posesional football, then quickly on the break Clare Daly launched the ball down the wing to Jess who knocked the ball to Kim, Kim slipped it through to Chloe who took on a Crosby defender, Chloe passed the ball to Anne and Anne hit the ball squarely into the back of the net. Half-time 0-1.
The second half started with a scare for Salford, Crosby hit the ball over the Salford defence, the striker was one on one with the goalkeeper but Leanne pulled off a great save which denied Crosby a goal. Both teams were playing good attacking football; Clare Daly, Charlotte, Katie and Claire for a time were kept busy in Salford’s defence supported by Hannah and Jess. Salford created a number of chances of their own but could not extend their lead not even from the penalty spot. It was Crosby who made the most of their chances and equalised from a ball sent over the Salford defence, again the Crosby player was one on one with the keeper she fired her shot and Leanne Salford’s goalkeeper just got her fingertips to the ball knocking it onto the post where it rebounded into the Salford net. Full-time 1-1.
Overall, good defending from Clare Daly, Charlotte, Katie and Claire, a solid midfield with Jess, Kim and Hannah, luck was not with Chloe who on another day would have scored three or four goals, Leanne did her best to get Salford the three points and the captain Anne was supporting all the play.
