An update from Christchurch United Womens

Our womens team is having another successful season. Here are two match day reports from the coach, Bevan Reid.

Sunday 22^nd June 2014

The women’s team played Mid-Canterbury in Ashburton today.

Up to the start of the game Mid-Canterbury were heading for an unbeaten season having played 10, won 9 and drawn 1.

United were 4 points behind so even with a win were unable to claim the league title, but were able to confirm second position.

The ladies played with a lot of pride and they really wanted the win. After 90 minutes of a real arm wrestle were able to come out with a 1 nil win.

Our keeper, Shelly McDowall, made a glorious 1 on 1 save to keep the girls in the game and after 90 minutes we managed a 1 nil win, with the goal scored by Leila Shahtahmasebi.

The whole team played extremely well, and played for each other.

A special mention must be made of Helen Keeman who was pushed from pillar to post as far as positions during the game and played really well in all of the position.

Player of the day went to Shelly McDowall.

Below is the writeup of the game from the Ashburton Guardian:

The Mid Canterbury women’s league victory finished on a sour note, losing to rivals Christchurch United 1-0 in Mainland Football women’s division two in Ashburton on Sunday.

Mid Canterbury had gone through 10 games unbeaten to have the league title wrapped up heading into the weekend’s final round, only to have their party spoiled by Christchurch United.

Instead of completing an unbeaten league season, Mid Canterbury stumbled at the final hurdle at home to finish one point in front of United – who lost twice in the latter part of the season.

Mid Canterbury should now, by rights, gain promotion to division one next season.

– By Jonathan Leask

Sunday 29^th June 2014

The women’s team played Nomads at Clare Park today.

We were looking forward to this game today other than the fact we only had a squad of 12 for the game (some of the girls were going to be shattered after this one!)

In the second minute Sharne Andrew managed to beat the keeper with a good shot. 1 nil up. (At this point the Nomads coach was overheard to say “Oh no, this could be bad!”).

From this point on the girls kept their foot on the accelerator and didn’t really let Nomads have the ball. (If the opposition haven’t got the ball they can’t score). The Keeper, Shelly McDowall, wasn’t called on to make a save at any stage in the first half. In fact the only time she touched the ball was from a passback or to take a goalkick!

3 more goals to United in the first half scored by Julie Jorgensen (Penalty), Sarah Tomlin and Dianna Creighton.

At half time the coaching staff made some changes to the lineup, which with hindsight I have to admit may have changed the lineup a bit too much, and put too much pressure on the defenders. (5 strikers may just have been a few too many!)

Nomads managed to crack the defence twice in the early stages of the second half and our centre back, Kristy Reid, adjusted the lineup slightly on-field and the team went back to playing good football and being on attack (It’s an easy game when you communicate and listen!)

Final Score 4 – 2 to United.

Well done girls!

It was difficult to pick Player of the Day as all of the girls played extremely well but we gave it jointly to Zahra Shahtahmasebi and Sarah Barclay.