This week the ladies turned their attention away from the league and to the Budweiser Women’s FA Cup, the ladies travelled to Handsworth Ladies FC in the 1st Qualifying round.
Looking to push on from last week’s 4-1 win at home to Hull Ladies FC, manager Liam Kelly fielded a similar team with the only change being Laura Danskin in for Rachel White and reshuffle with Alarna Fuller back in central midfield & Lindsey Hopton back up front.
With Handsworth two leagues below Guiseley, the girls were looking for a comfortable win but as always the FA Cup can be the underdogs time to shine and Handsworth started positively from the off. With both teams taking time to settle under the ball, it was Handsworth who had the first chance on goal. With through ball through the Guiseley defence the Handsworth striker took goalkeeper Boswell on only for Boswell to react sharply and put the striker off to which the Guiseley defence cleared the loose ball. Guiseley were now working well and using their strong wingers Amy Parker and new signing Leanne Warren with sharp runs looking to break down the Handsworth defence.
With early chances coming from Hopton & Hulme, Hulme having the ball in the back of the net with a superb
finish only to be ruled offside around the 20 minute mark. Other chances game from skipper Kat
ie Matthews who had a strong header narrowly miss the near post from a well delivered Hopton corner.
Handsworth again had their chances with a high looping ball tipped over the bar buy the Guiseley goalkeeper and another chance hitting the bar from a corner. Guiseley then stepped up their game, with some great passing play from central midfielders Katie Jesson & Alarna Fuller working well and switching play with the support of full backs Abi Barker & Caroline Cropp who were working well overlapping giving Guiseley various options.
The break for Guiseley came in the 40th minute with Hulme taking on the keeper, neatly nipping round her to set Hopton up for her 3nd goal of the season. With the goal settling the Guiseley team they were very much in control till half time.
HT 0-1
With Guiseley looking to add to their lead and looking confident, they upped their game with some great
passing play. On the 52nd minute Hopton found space and went on a startling run into the box, driving towards goal only to be slayed with a nasty tackle where the Handsworth defender got nowhere near the ball! The decision was easy for the referee who awarded a penalty to Guiseley, Alarna Fuller stepped up to coolly smash the ball in the roof of the net leaving the Handsworth goalkeeper with no chance.
Handsworth seemed deflated by Guiseley’s second goal, they did create some good chances but Guiseley’s defence worked well and Katie Matthews and Laura Danskin were solid in limiting Handsworth’s attacks with some great tackles. With Guiseley taking a full bench, Leanne Warren made way for Neely Murrell on the left wing on around 65 minutes and Alarna Fuller making way for Rachel Landricombe who switched with Amy Parker who moved infield to central midfield.
With Guiseley pushing for a 3rd goal, Amy Parker claimed a loose ball in midfield with a neat overhead kick to Caroline Hulme cleverly switched the ball to Murrell on the left wing whose pinpoint cross into the box dipped over the keeper and into the bottom far corner of the net. Hulme was sharp to follow in, with the ball already crossing the line for the 3rd goal and Murrells 1st of the season.
Guiseley made their final substitution as Katie Jesson made way for Sally Jones in midfield who settled in straight away linking well with the full backs, who both had great games working hard and pushing forward supporting the wingers. There was 5 minutes added time due to the foul on Hopton which led to the penalty.
Full time score 0-3 with the player of the match going to Alarna Fuller
Goal scorers: Hopton 42’, Fuller 52’ & Murrell 68’
Manager Liam Kelly said after the game “I thought today we provided a very intelligent and professional performance – again. All credit to Handsworth, a very good, young hard working team who will do well this Season no doubt. Very proud of the Players, the new systems are now becoming second nature, what we want from them as individuals is been delivered and some players are really stepping up to the mark. It’s not just the technical improvement that impresses me, but the psychological and social improvement – encouragement, application, and information going around the field. This is very important to our success and because of our recruitment policy over the summer it is making it easier for the new players to settle in. But we need and can raise the bar again now… October/November is massive for any Club, it’s the time to create some momentum, winning attitude and set down the marker of expectation. We need and will be better in these next 8 weeks.”
Well done to Handsworth who overall gave the Ladies a great game, we wish them all the best for the season.
The Ladies will take on Barnsley Ladies in the next round which will be played at Nethermoor on Sunday October 14th KO 2pm.
