Game number 2 of my footballing weekender, had an overnight stay in Manchester having watched Liverpool Ladies demolish Sunderland Ladies 6-0 the previous evening (see last match report) in the Continental Cup group stage. It was time to see another game in group two this one between Manchester City Women & Everton Ladies. A match that was to take place at the Etihad Stadium.
Life in the top tier of women's football has proven to be a tough beginning for Manchester City Women having lost both their opening league fixtures, knocked out of the FA Cup and suffered a defeat in their opening Continental Cup Group Two match against Doncaster Rovers Belles.
Everton have gotten off to a slow start in the league having picked up just a point after a goalless draw away at Birmingham then a 2-0 home defeat by Notts County Ladies. In the FA Cup however they surprised many by beating Liverpool 2-0 to make the semi-finals and then got a point on Wednesday evening against their Merseyside rivals in the 1st round of group matches in the Contintental Cup.
A great occasion for both clubs getting the chance to play at one of the top football grounds in England, Manchester City's Etihad Stadium is an impressive looking venue a modern build, laid out well. Price's for refreshments are a little OTT, but that's what we've come to expect in the modern footballing era. Inside the stadium is no less impressive really has the feel of a sporting arena must be a great atomosphere when full.
The weather was fantastic bright and sunny the pitch perfect, dare I say it? Has summer football finally arrived? The scene was set an early 12pm kick off Manchester City Women would be desperate to put on a good show and get that much needed 1st win in front of their fans, they would have to do it though without striker Toni Duggan who in her tracksuit by the pitch as the teams warmed up hadn't even made the subs bench.
Manchester City Women starting XI - Karen Bardsley, Emma Lipman, Steph Houghton (C) McManus, Nicola Harding, Lynda Shepherd, Betsy Hassett, Jill Scott, Isobel Christiansen, Natasha Flint, & Krystle Johnston
Everton Ladies starting XI - Rachel Brown-Finnis, Vicky Jones, Lindsey Johnson, Gabrielle George, Alex Greenwood, Brooke Chaplin, Michelle Hinnigan (C), Danielle Turner, Jody Handley, Kelly Jones & Nikita Parris
It was Manchester City in their home kit of sky shirts and white shorts and socks that got the match underway against Everton lined up in their away kit, yellow and blue shirts, blue shorts and yellow socks. Looks to be a decent crowd building although hard to tell inside such a large area. It is no7 Krystle Johnston operating up top in the absence of Toni Duggan with Jill Scott the one looking to offer the closest support..
The home side start positively looking to press Everton high up the pitch, after some good build up play the ball is fed into Betsy Hassett central, the New Zealander lays it out left to Isobel Christiansen who shoots, the ball going across the face of goal and wide.
Up top for Everton the pacy Nikita Parris looks a threat, nearly wins through for a run on goal the Manchester City defence just squeeze her up and the ball cannons up to loop into Karen Bardsley's hands.
Everton's Danielle Turner plays in Parris on the left running into the channel she bursts into the box, attempts a shot from an acute angle that blazes over the bar.
An early injury blow for Manchester City as full back Emma Lipman is forced to come off her replacement Chelsea Nightingale.
Christiansen is fed the ball again from Hassett out on the left she shoots, lacking power Everton goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis is well positioned at her near post to gather.
Alex Greenwood has a great run down the left gets in a cross a little too deep for Jody Handley to control on the far side with her head the ball comes out to Parris 20 yards out the effort is tame an easy take for Bardsley.
For Manchester City Krystle Johnston has a shot from inside the box to the right of goal once again though Brown-Finnis is there to scoop the effort up into her arms. Both sides are winning the ball well and looking to get it forwards quickly the final ball though is often rushed and the move breaks down.
Jill Scott and Alex Greenwood in particular are having a real tussle, the tall midfielder getting the better of the full back late on breaking for the by line never really gets the ball under control and the cross over the bar. Scott has another attempt shortly afterwards this time with a great flick that beats central defender Gabrielle George turning Scott attempts a half volley with the outside of her boot it loops up but swerves straight into Brown-Finnis' arms.
Half-time Manchester City Women 0-0 Everton Ladies
A fairly even 1st half with few chances for both teams Manchester City having the best efforts at goal nothing to seriously trouble Rachel Brown-Finnis however. Everton get the 2nd half underway. From the start it looks as though Isobel Christiansen has been pushed higher up the pitch to support Johnston and Scott. Everton have made a chance bringing on striker Simone Magill for Danielle Turner, both teams looking to increase their attacking options.
Jody Handley puts in a great cross from the left which is headed away by Chelsea Nightingale, the ball falls to Everton captain Michelle Hinnigan who puts in a cross back in this time her counterpart Manchester City captain Steph Houghton is well placed to head clear.
The game flows from one end to the other with both teams having little chance to trouble the goal. When a player does break through the defence they quickly recover to make the vital challenge.
Everton's Lindsey Johnson almost puts the ball into the back of her own net attempting to clear a cross, she is up before Brown-Finnis can come and claim the ball, close it goes narrowly wide of the post for a corner kick. Form the corner the ball comes out to Scott who drives the ball goalwards, Brown-Finnis drops instinctively to save can't hold onto it however inside the six yard box a scramble ensues Everton manage to smuggle the ball clear.
Parris has a break as she pulls out wide left runs into the box Natasha Flint does well to keep up with the striker and do enough to put her off as her attempted shot goes behind the goal. Milly Turner comes on for Everton to replace Brooke Chaplin.
Brown-Finnis pulls off a fantastic save to deny Steph Houghton a goal as she headers the ball at the far post from a well delivered Isobel Christiansen corner.
Everton's Kelly Jones lays the ball out to her left for Parris to run onto she shoots the effort blocked spins back out to Kelly Jones can't strike it cleanly allowing Bardsley time to make the save at her near post.
Jess Holbrook comes on for Lynda Sheperd late on for Manchester City the game looks like it is heading for a 0-0. The attendance is fantastic 1462, the home team are pushing hard for the win. Christiansen finds herself with space to drive into the box the effort once more lacking the power needed to beat Brown-Finnis.
With 88 mins on the clock Johnson gives away a free kick on the left level with the 18 yard line it's Christiansen to take, she floats an inviting cross in, Brown-Finnis tries to come through the crowd to take it, spills it and falling loose at the far side of the six yard box there is Natasha Flint the strike the back hard into the back of the net 1-0!
In injury time Everton try desperately to level the scores with little time remaining Kelly Jones crosses the ball in Magill leaves it for Parris the effort blocked comes out to Hinnigan who strikes the ball cleanly hard and low it cannons off the up right and Manchester City clear the ball and hold out for that all important 1st victory.
You could see the relief on the Manchester City players faces at getting this victory, especially in front of their own fans at the Etihad. Everton though will feel a draw would have been a fair result and will be disappointed to come away with nothing.
The result means that Manchester City move onto 3pts level with Sunderland, with Liverpool now on 4pts, Group Two though his headed by Doncaster Rovers Belles with 6pts who continued their winning run with a 3-1 victory away to Durham.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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