Salford Return To 'Winning' Ways.
Salford welcomed Stockport County to The Sports Village Ground with the away side looking to avenge an early season 4-0 defeat to the hands of Salford.
The early exchanges were pretty competative between the two teams, but Stockport had the upper hand early on putting Salford under a lot of pressure and not allowing the home side to get comfortable on the ball. Stockport started to click and took full advantage of Salford's slow start, passing the ball around well and playing some neat football and beginning to dominate the midfield battle. Stockport took the lead a quarter the way through the game with a dubias goal. A soft free kick was conceded by the home team just inside the Stockport half. The free kick was taken but with the ball still rolling, the Salford defence were caught napping as the ball found its way to the Stockport winger who clearly handled the ball which none of the officials noticed and the visitors were 1-0 up.
Stockport continued to dominate and tried hard to score a second and came close from a set piece only for the weak header to go wide. Salford began to slowly edge into the game, passing the ball better but not creating much. The ball broke suddenly for the Salford winger Chloe Llewellyn who found herself one on one with the keeper only to blaze the shot wide. Half Time 0-1
The second half was a completly different game for the home team, as they began to press higher up the field and putting Stockport under a lot of pressure. The passing was much better too as Salford began to find holes in a shakey defence. Salford created several chances but to no avail. Time for a change. Kim Doyle and Lyndsey Newman were substituted for Fay Abrehart and Chelsea Scholes. Within minutes Salford scored a deserved equaliser. The ball found its way to the back post and Charlotte O'Connor smashed the ball into the roof of the net to leave the keeper with no chance. A fantastic finish and easily the goal of the season so far 1-1.
Salford went from strength to strength, piling on the pressure and not allowing the away side out of their own half. After a few squandered chances Abbie Wynn charged down the right flank and blazed the ball across the six yard box for the arriving Salford forward Chelsea Scholes who flicked the ball into the back of the net with her heal for an absolutely world class finish and Salford took the lead 2-1.
Stockport were clearly rattled as the home team created chance after chance but Salford couldn't find that goal to kill off the game. With five minutes to go Stockport broke through the Salford defence, Joanne Phillips charged out of her goal to deal with the danger but the Stockport midfielder was to quick and managed to turn the Salford keeper and fire the ball towards the home teams goal. A routine header for the covering defender was horribly misjudged and headed into her own net. Stockport couldn't believe their luck. 2-2.
With time running out Salford had one last attack, Fay Abrehart broke through the Stockport defence only for the away sides keeper to handle outside the area. The referee awarded Salford a free kick on the edge of the box and the Stockport keeper escaped with just a ticking off. Fay Abrehart stepped up and smashed the ball into the bottom corner to give Salford the lead another stunning goal and justrice was done. Full Time 3-2.
Salford deserved winners in the end, a fantastic second half performance with a completly different attitude and mentality.
Stockport continued to dominate and tried hard to score a second and came close from a set piece only for the weak header to go wide. Salford began to slowly edge into the game, passing the ball better but not creating much. The ball broke suddenly for the Salford winger Chloe Llewellyn who found herself one on one with the keeper only to blaze the shot wide. Half Time 0-1
The second half was a completly different game for the home team, as they began to press higher up the field and putting Stockport under a lot of pressure. The passing was much better too as Salford began to find holes in a shakey defence. Salford created several chances but to no avail. Time for a change. Kim Doyle and Lyndsey Newman were substituted for Fay Abrehart and Chelsea Scholes. Within minutes Salford scored a deserved equaliser. The ball found its way to the back post and Charlotte O'Connor smashed the ball into the roof of the net to leave the keeper with no chance. A fantastic finish and easily the goal of the season so far 1-1.
Salford went from strength to strength, piling on the pressure and not allowing the away side out of their own half. After a few squandered chances Abbie Wynn charged down the right flank and blazed the ball across the six yard box for the arriving Salford forward Chelsea Scholes who flicked the ball into the back of the net with her heal for an absolutely world class finish and Salford took the lead 2-1.
Stockport were clearly rattled as the home team created chance after chance but Salford couldn't find that goal to kill off the game. With five minutes to go Stockport broke through the Salford defence, Joanne Phillips charged out of her goal to deal with the danger but the Stockport midfielder was to quick and managed to turn the Salford keeper and fire the ball towards the home teams goal. A routine header for the covering defender was horribly misjudged and headed into her own net. Stockport couldn't believe their luck. 2-2.
With time running out Salford had one last attack, Fay Abrehart broke through the Stockport defence only for the away sides keeper to handle outside the area. The referee awarded Salford a free kick on the edge of the box and the Stockport keeper escaped with just a ticking off. Fay Abrehart stepped up and smashed the ball into the bottom corner to give Salford the lead another stunning goal and justrice was done. Full Time 3-2.
Salford deserved winners in the end, a fantastic second half performance with a completly different attitude and mentality.
Player of the Match Claire Harrop
