by Nathan Soulby

Tameside United 3 – 4 West Women Devs
Sunday 23 October
Ewen Fields, Hyde

Goalscorers: Leigh McFadyen, an own goal, Chloe Jackson-Ogden, Abi Littler.

West Devs made it two wins from two on Sunday, with a dramatic late victory at Ewen Fields over hosts Tameside United.

After a spell of pressure from the home side early on, it was West who made the breakthrough after 17 minutes.

Some patient build up play from Maya Germain led to her skilfully passing her opponent on the left before fizzing a cross into the 6 yard box, perfect for Leigh McFadyen to tap home into an empty net to claim her second of the season.

The ‘Devs’ were quick to double their lead, making it 2-0 just a minute later. Jess Hartley played the ball into Leigh McFadyen from left back, and the striker instinctively nodded the ball on to the forward run from midfield of Chloe Jackson-Ogden.

The 18 year old dispatched a half volley from the 18 yard box across the goalkeeper, and the ball nestled perfectly into the bottom corner.

The lead was halved almost straight from the restart, a powerful strike from 20 yards out whistled into the back of the net, with Anya Golder helpless.

The second half started with the visitors proving the dominant side, and it proved a recurring theme as the half developed.

West were wasteful in front of goal for a spell, until Rachel Myers latched on to a through ball on the left. A pull back across the 6 yard box resulted in the ball being prodded home by a recovering Tameside defender. The own goal extended West’s lead to 3-1 with 62 minutes gone.

You’d be forgiven with 5 minutes left to think that West had the game wrapped up, however an otherwise solid back line switched off to a long ball over the top, and the onrushing Tameside striker finished superbly with a lob over Golder.

Tameside had unfinished business, and confusion over a throw in led to a disjointed West back line conceding again in the very last minute. A quick and concise home counter attack taking full advantage of a fortuitous decision to level the score at 3-3.

It seemed as if West had snatched a draw from the jaws of a victory, yet from the restart proved to be the defining moment of the game. Debra Wright did superbly to slot a pass between the Tameside centre backs, and 16 year old Abi Littler cut in from the left to slot the ball in the bottom corner with a calmness beyond her years.

Cue scenes from the away dugout, and on the pitch, as West confirmed 6 points from a possible 6 in true West fashion.