For those of you who couldn't make it to Barton Stadium on Sunday, you missed a cracking game of football
The ladies team were fired up for this League Cup match against Manchester Stingers and they also knew is wasn't going to be an easy game, as their opposition already had the upper hand with two wins from two last season in the league.
However, the Ladies Team weren't going to stand idly by and let Manchester Stingers take this tie without a fight. Winsford started the match with a fire in their belly and were rewarded for their efforts with an early goal after 6 minutes. Following a run by Vicky Jones down the left wing and a great cross, Ashleigh Kerr tapped home from close range.
Unfortunately, it wasn't long before Manchester Stingers equalised. But it took a massive deflection off a Winsford defender on the edge of our 18 yard box to beat our keeper, Jessica Moore.
Then just before half time, Manchester Stingers won themselves a corner and Winsford's misfortune continued. The ball was crossed in and Jessica Moore caught it cleanly, but for an opposition player to knock the ball from her hands. The ball fell straight at the feet of a Manchester Stingers player in the six yard box, who couldn't miss from such close range. The Ladies Team went into the break trailing 1 - 2.
However, following an inspirational team talk at half time Winsford came out with the will to win and completely out played Manchester Stingers. The ladies Team were awarded a penalty for hand ball in the box, which Sarah Lee cooly converted, to bring the scoreline to 2 - 2.
Then Winsford turned up the heat and were again rewarded for their efforts with a second goal from Ashleigh Kerr, who was in fantastic form. The Ladies kept up the pressure on Manchester Stingers, not giving their defence or their keeper a moments peace.
But what followed were two heart breaking mistakes in the dying minutes of the game, which gifted Manchester Stingers an underserved win.
In the end it was dissapointing final result, a bitter pill to swallow for the Ladies Team, as they were by far the better side on the day. Winsford played thier hearts out and gave everything they had. But it just wasn't to be.
The Ladies Team will now regroup following their defeat and concentrate on the league and next weeks home match against Liverpool Feds Reserves.