West Didsbury & Chorlton began their NWWRFL campaign with an emphatic 7-0 win over neighbours Didsbury.
Manager Paul Caddick handed a full debut to Chloe Spencer whilst with her and Emily Croasdale replacing Rachael Dunlop and the injured Orla Conlon respectively.
On a small surface it took the visitors time to take a foothold in the game as Elizabeth Livesey was the first to test the goalkeeper with a hard low shot to the near post after 6 minutes. West went close several times with Sophie Bracegridle powering over a cross from close range before firing one into the side netting.
Bracegirdle made no mistake with the goal taking full advantage from the goalkeeper’s failure to take the ball with Emily Croasdale through on goal allowing the West number 15 to tap into an empty goal from 20 yards out on 17 minutes.
The West pressure continued as Vicky Kerr fired over before Spencer saw an effort just wide of the post. Elizabeth Livesey went closer still as she fired over from under the bar from a terrific Bracegirdle cross.
West were forced into an early change as Lauren O’Neill returned in place of injured Captain Shauna Edmondson. The lead doubled five minutes before half time as Chloe Spencer latched onto an errant pass from the Didsbury defence, using her body t hold off the challenge before firing into the corner.
The goals continued after the break as Emily Croasdale low effort from a Livesey lay off crept inside the far post on 49 minutes. The chances continued as Spencer and Bracegirdle both fired just wide of the carpet.
The fourth didn’t come until the 76th minute as Jami Hodges twisted and turned her way into the box before poking home at the near post. The fifth came two minutes later as Vicky Kerr cut inside from the left before firing an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
West’s tempo didn’t relent as Bracegirdle turned provider as her cross found substitute Nat Callaghan who moved her West goal tally into double figures heading over the goalkeeper for 6-0. The scoring was rounded off moments later as Bracegirdle doubled her tally for the day moments later as Kerr burst down the left picking out the West winger at the far post to tap home. At the other end goalkeeper Claire Jefferson was called into making a brilliant one handed save to preserve her clean sheet, the best move of the game almost made it eight for West but Hodges curled just over.
The result is West’s biggest league win in their short history surpassing a 6-0 win away to City of Liverpool last season.
Team: Jefferson, Caddick (Mitchell), Powles (Livesey), Edmondson (O’Neill), Bracegirdle, Hodges, Kerr, Mitchell (Croasdale), Croasdale (Frisby), Spencer, Livesey (Callaghan). Subs: Callaghan, Frisby, O’Neill.
