Round 4 Review – MUWFC Win In Windy Conditions

MUWFC travelled to West Beach in Round 4 of the WNPL to take on bottom side Fulham United in extremely windy conditions that made football extremely difficult, however MUWFC started well, controlling the first 10-15 minutes with absolute ease, and not allowing Fulham a sniff.

2 good chances by the in-form Kristy Moore and Chrissy Panagaris were both missed early, although the intent was obvious, to push forward and put pressure on the Fulham defence right from the outset.

On 15 minutes, the pressure was too much for Fulham to withstand. A first time cross from Donna Cockayne found Laura Stockdale who made no mistake, finishing emphatically into the back of the net to put MUWFC up 1-0.

The game was continuing in the same vein with Kristy Moore, Laura Stockdale and Ellie Bills absolutely dominating the midfield, with Bills having her best match to date in a MUWFC shirt, and Chrissy Panagaris holding up play brilliantly, bringing Lauren Steer and Donna Cockayne into the game on the wings.

On 27 mins a neat bit of play by Stockdale centrally was followed up by a sumptious ball in behind the defence, where Kristy Moore didnt have to break stride, ran onto it and bent it expertly around the oncoming keeper and into the back of the net to make it 2-0.

The rest of the first half was ran out by MUWFC playing a possession game, with the back 4 knocking it about at our pace, and not really allowing Fulham to touch the ball.

The second half started much the same, however a lapse in concentration which caused an error at the back gave Fulham their first major chance, which they took with no problems after a slight scramble, putting it away from 6 yards to bring the score back to 2-1.

The next 10 minutes was quite tense as the ever worsening wind made football extremely hard to master, with conditions deteriorating into something that Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp would make comment about.

MUWFC got their groove back though with Jess Signoriello fresh off the bench throwing herself around after replacing Stockdale and Millie Scott causing issues on the right for a tiring Fulham side after coming on for Lauren Steer. And on 70 mins, the 2 goal advantage was restored when as Ebony Kyriacou played a long diagonal ball over the top, time seemed to stand still, as the Fulham defence were focused on Chrissy Panagaris and Millie Scott, thinking they were offside but failing to notice Donna Cockayne ghost in from the left, running onto the ball and slotting it into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.

The next 15 minutes of the game were quite scrappy, although not without more chances for MUWFC, as Kyriacou hit the post, then Panagaris and Signoriello both had follow up shots both well saved by the keeper.

The remaining time was extremely difficult for either side to create anything due to the worsening conditions, although credit must go to both sides for putting a decent footballing effort on show in terrible conditions.

Match Details: Friday, March 22 2019 South Australian WNPL 2019 – Round 4

Fulham United 1 (Tansell 48′) Cautions (A Ebbs 48′) MUWFC 3 (Stockdale 15′, Moore 27′, Cockayne 70′) Venue: West Beach Parks Football Centre