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Halifax FC Women progressed comfortably into the next round of the FA Women’s National League Cup after a 1-6 victory over FC United of Manchester.
By Jack Snaith
Halifax FC Women got their 23/24 season off to a winning start, progressing comfortably into the next round of the FA Women’s National League Cup after a 1-6 victory over FC United of Manchester.
The game was very lively from the start, with FC United winning a corner in the second minute. The Eagles defended this well and then hit FC United on the counter-attack; action at both ends early in the game.
The Eagles struck first through Lucy Sowerby who turned her marker brilliantly to create the space to shoot with her right foot into the bottom left corner after 10 minutes of play. 0-1. Georgia Stevens enjoyed lots of space on the right hand side in the first half, making cutting runs past players with brilliant service from the skipper, Shauna Legge.
Just five minutes before half time, The Eagles scored again, with a brilliant corner from Lucy Sowerby finished off with a bullet header by Issy Dean to make it 0-2. This wasn’t the last action of the half however, as Halifax scored again in very similar fashion three minutes later, another corner delivered beautifully by Sowerby this time found Stevens who headed home unmarked just 2 minutes before the half time whistle, to make it 0-3 at the break.
Lucy Sowerby opens the scoring; photography by Rachel Clayton
Issy Dean celebrates making it two; photography by Rachel Clayton
FC United kicked off the second half, and came out after the break with renewed energy and lots of neat passing. This was rewarded just three minutes into the second half, as FC United pulled one back through Ella Ritchie who poked in a near post goal to make it 1-3.
Halifax responded to the threat, working to regain control of the game. After 54 minutes of play, Darcie Greene had a chance at close range which narrowly missed, hitting the post.
The Eagles, at this stage, were dominating the game, putting huge pressure on the FC United defenders. The pressure eventually paid off in the 60th minute as Olivia Wilson tapped a goal in from another corner to extend Halifax’s lead: 1-4.
Only minutes later, Georgia Stevens scored again with a long range effort, which took a huge deflection out of the goalkeepers reach. At first, it was believed to have been an own goal due to the deflection, but upon review, Georgia’s shot was on target. 1-5 to the Eagles after 63 minutes.
As the game headed into the final stages, Halifax’s Drew Greene showed some impressive footwork to dribble past multiple players and get a shot off which hit the post in the 85th minute as the Eagles looked to see out the game.
In a repeat of the first half, the last action of the game came just before the full time whistle, as in the 89th minute, Stevens scored again to complete her hattrick, this time slotting a very tidy finish into the bottom right corner.
Stevens’ goal sealed the 1-6 win for Halifax, and the hat-trick hero was also awarded Opposition Player of the Match by FC United of Manchester.
Hat-trick hero Georgia Stevens; photography by Rachel Clayton
Rob Mitchell celebrates with his team; photography by Rachel Clayton
Manager Rob Mitchell was asked about Georgia Stevens’ performance after the game:
“What Georgia did in possession and out of possession was fantastic. She’s quite vocal and gets on the ball”.
Next up: The Eagles are back in action on Sunday 3rd September at 2pm for their first FA Women’s National League game of the season against Stourbridge, which will be played at Halifax’s new home ground Liversedge FC, Clayborn Ground, Quaker Lane, Liversedge, WF15 8DF.
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