As preparations continue for the Ladies’ historic FA Cup tie next weekend, focus turned towards the Reserve side at the weekend as they began their defence of the FAWNL Reserve Plate. Find out how they got on in our latest weekly update.
Reserves build on Newcastle victory
With no first-team match this week ahead of their big Women’s FA Cup Third Round match at Coventry United next Sunday, attention turned to Dan Dewar’s Reserve Team.
After a difficult start to the season and a change in coaching staff, the Reserves pulled off a significant victory last week away to Newcastle United Reserves, who currently sit third in the Reserve Division North table. This week they were in Cup action, defending the FA Women’s National League Reserve Plate trophy they won earlier this year – the Club’s first national trophy. The opposition at Stockport Sports Village were Liverpool Feds Reserves, who currently sit six places above us in the league.
Conditions were good for the match, cold, but with little wind and no strong sun which can be a problem at SSV. County started well, and it wasn’t long before Eva Craney-Barnie, dropping down from the First Team to get match time having been on the bench at Consett last week, put the home team in front.
Confidence boosted by an early goal, County continued to dominate the game and midway through the first half Elle Turner doubled their lead. Craney-Barnie added her second of the game shortly after, and County went into half-time with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Under darkening skies and with the floodlights on, the second half settled down to the same pattern of County dominance. ‘Keeper, Denika Connolly, was called into action to make a few good saves but otherwise County protected their three goal lead well.
In a late twist the referee awarded Feds a penalty in the closing minutes from which they scored a consolation goal, but the overall result was never really in doubt after the first thirty minutes of the game. County go into the hat for the next round to continue their defence of the trophy.
After the game Manager, Dan Dewar, was pleased with the performance but says there’s still room for improvement:
“The girls started well and deserved the lead at half-time. We showed good resilience and spirit in the second half when our backs were against the wall. It wasn’t our best performance, but the result is all that mattered today.”
Elsewhere the Development Team were playing Altrincham FC Women in the Cheshire Women and Youth League, Premier Division. A resounding 10 (ten)-0 victory was the result for new Manager, Rhys Dandeker-Bourne.
“The ‘Devs’ were exceptional today. We showed a ruthless side in the first twenty minutes that put us in a great position to control the game. They created great chances, and we saw some really top finishing as well…”
Preparations begin for historic cup tie
We now look forward to next Sunday, for what is arguably the biggest game in the Club’s history as we travel to Barclay’s Women’s Championship side, Coventry United, for our WFA Cup Third Round game. Hopefully by next week, there will be two County sides still in the hunt for FA Cup success!
Good luck from everyone at County Ladies to Dave Challinor and the team for their corresponding match on Wednesday!!
