After the excellent win at table topping Bootle the previous weekend Chorltonian Ladies returned to Merseyside for their first visit to Childwall Sports Centre to play Liverpool Marshall Feds Reserves. 

The two sides had met the previous month when the Feds Reserves left the Police Club with all three points thanks to stunning strike from Laura Hart. Since then Chorlts had collected four points from their previous fixtures pushing themselves clear from the bottom of the table.

With Chorlts squad down to the bare bones Manager Paul Caddick made three changes bringing in Carrie Hancock and Leanne Joyce into the defence and Leigh McFadyen up front as the lone striker. 

With the wind behind their backs and kicking down the hill Chorlts started brightly as they nullified the threat from Feds early on. At the other end they created a number of openings through Ellie Caddick and Jamila Hodges as the two wingers pressed high supported by full backs of Amy Friel and Joyce.

It was through this pressure that Chorlts took the lead as Caddick’s run on the right saw the ball break to Shauna Edmondson who took a touch, steadied herself and finished hard and low across the keeper into the bottom corner of the net on 24 minutes.

As the game wore on it became a midfield battle in which Nat Callaghan and Debbie Price found a stern test in the combative Feds pairing of Jolene Murray and Danielle Maidment. The two pressed and harried and moved the ball well when in position as they sort to draw Feds level.  However when the home side were able to get behind the defensive line the reliable Elizabeth Livesey broke up their attempts on goal ensuring that goalkeeper Claire Jefferson had little to do. 

It was 2-0 on 29 minutes when a ball from Callaghan was hooked goal-ward by the impressive McFadyen who led the line well, catching the keeper of her line to double Chorlts lead. Chorlts were able to take that two goal lead into the half.

With Chorlts now playing into the wind and up the slope it was up to them to weather the early second half onslaught.  Feds came out for the second half quickly attacking the Chorlts goal who defended resolutely with both Hancock and Livesey comfortable against anything played aerially in to the box. Friel and Joyce keeping close control of their wide players whilst the lively Hodges, Caddick and Price looked to pick off the home side on the counter.

On 71 minutes a ball played in field by Fed’s Karen Quinn was collected by Murray who advanced a couple of yards before unleashing a terrific left footed shot that left Jeffries, who’d picked up a knock earlier in the game, rooted to the spot as the ball nestled in to the top corner.  Feds continued to attack and buoyed by the goal forced a number of corners that the Chorlts defence did well to resist with Hancock denying Feds a certain second goal with a superb last ditch tackle.

Chorlts took full advantage and on the counter attack Caddick received the ball wide right from Callaghan, beat her full back and then struck a venomous shot high in to the roof of the net on 82 mins for a 1-3 lead. With only 11 players Chorlts sort to see the game out but with 5 mins remaining a corner was only partially cleared and Feds substitute Molly Farley reduced the arrears with a fine finish.  Price Caddick Mcfadyen and Hodges all had good opportunity to kill the game, non-more so than McFadyen after a cross to the back post by Caddick left her racing on to the ball but she could only partially collect and the keeper saved but Chorlts saw out the game to stretch their unbeaten run to three.

After the match Manager Paul Caddick said “I’m really pleased with the effort and flexibility of the squad and the resolution we’ve show today bodes well for the coming season. We are now finding our feet at this level and have started to prove that we can compete at this level.”

Feds Player of the Match: Karen Quinn

Chorlts Player of the Match: Shaua Edmondson

Chorlts Team: Jefferson, Friel, Hancock, Livesey, Joyce, Caddick, (82mins), Edmondson (24mins), Price, Callaghan, Hodges, McFadyen (29mins).