County have faced two tough away games since our last update from Stockport Sports Village, the latest of which saw Steve O’Hara’s side storm back into the top three. Find out how they got on in our latest weekly review.
County provide stern test for the league leaders:
First up last weekend, the team made the first of three long trips North to play league leaders, Durham Cestria.
Manager Steve O’Hara reflects:
“A cold, wet, windy, day in the northeast, against the league leaders, gave us a chance to see just how far we have come this season.
“Unfortunately, we were unlucky to concede after just two minutes from a scrappy melee in the box. Faye Bowness made a decent save, only for the ball to hit a Durham player in the face and fall to her teammate for a tap in. From that point on though, we took control of the game and were rewarded right on half time when a well worked corner routine was smashed into the roof of the net by Chloe Howard. Then, two mins into second half we conceded again. A shot from the angle slipping under the outstretched arm of Bowness.
“We kept pushing hard and the game became scrappy towards the end, probably to Durham’s relief, as they were able to see the game out.”
Stunning display sees County hit six:
It was back on the coach again on Sunday to play Middlesborough, who we beat 3-0 at home back in October. A cagey first half saw County with their noses in front at the break, thanks to Lily Murphy’s 16th minute goal.
Ten minutes into the second half, Rachel Davison came on as substitute and doubled the lead within five minutes, the score remaining at 0-2 until the 75th minute, when the flood gates opened!
Davison completed her hattrick with goals on 75 and 78 minutes, Em Bradshaw got the fifth on 80, and Davison put the icing on the cake by getting her fourth a minute later!
Steve O’Hara was ‘over the moon’…!
“A devastating second half display which saw us score five goals in a 25 minute spell, Rachel Davison scoring four of them.
“To finish the day in third place is just reward for the efforts the girls have put in this season. Two more league games and a cup final to finish off our season now, which we’re really excited about!”
We finish our run of North East fixtures with a trip to Norton & Stockton on Easter Sunday, then it’s our final league game of the season just ‘down the road’ in Birkenhead to play Merseyrail. Other teams around us in the league have games in hand, but also some tough fixtures to play, so County will be looking for maximum points in their last two games to try and secure a top three finish.
The Cheshire FA Ladies County Cup Final has been scheduled for April 30th with a 2pm kick-off at Vauxhall Motor’s Stadium, The vanEupen Arena at Ellesmere Port. CH66 1NJ, when we play Tranmere Rovers. We would love to see a big crowd there to support the team!
