West Women got off to a winning start in their first ever competitive game as they defeated Warrington Wolverines 3-2 in the SSE FA Women’s Cup at Brookburn Road.
West start the game brightly as Captain Shauna Edmondson curls an effort into the keeper’s hands from the edge of the area after some good build up play through midfield on four minutes. Three minutes an Ellie Caddick corner found Edmondson whose effort was blocked with Lyndsey Turner’s overhead kick collected by the goalkeeper.
West were awarded a penalty on 13 minutes when Leigh McFadyen was brought down by the Warrington goalkeeper Simpson. Elizabeth Livesey stepped up and drilled the spot kick into the bottom left hand corner to give West the lead and record her name in the record books.
On 19 minutes Warrington got their first chance as a ball was clipped over West’s defence as Nicola Chatterley went through but her shot flashed wide of the post. Two minutes later West had the ball in the net again as great switch from Edmondson picked out Sophie Bracegirlde whose great cross Livesey was headed home but the linesman had flagged for offside!
On 36 minutes there was another chance for West as Bracegirdle didn’t up on a loose ball, winning it on the right before delivering a cross to Chaneece Reeves at the far post but she shot just wide on the half turn. The visitors best chance of the first half came as they capitalised on a rare mistake from the West backline as Tattersall saw her effort ripple into the side netting from 20 yards out. With three minutes remaining of the half it was 2-0 as McFadyen chased a through ball, forcing the Warrington goalkeeper into an excellent save but the loose ball fell to Bracegirdle who lash it home from 25 yards out. West almost went into the break with a third as the Warrington goalkeeper as Reeves saw her effort spilt before the Wolverines keeper did well to recover before the advancing McFadyen.
The second half began with the visitors looking to get back into the game and were rewarded on 56 minutes when a long range free kick was tipped onto the bar by West goalkeeper Claire Jefferson but Wendy Booth was quickest to react poking in the rebound. Warrington were now searching for an equaliser and it took a crucial bit of defending from Caddick with a last-ditch tackle to prevent the visitors drawing level on the hour mark.
On 68 minutes a well struck corner found Livesey but she could only fire over the bar. Two minutes later West, having denied Warrington with a one-on-one challenge by Bracegirdle, countered and played the ball into substitute Jami Hodges who lobbed the keeper with aplomb only to the find the offside flag up.
On 76 minutes another excellent Caddick deliver from a corner was palmed straight to Edmondson but she could over from 8 yards! Two minutes later great play from Reeves saw her cut in onto her right foot and drill a shot to the keepers near post forcing a good save from Simpson. A minute later Hodges fired over from the edge of the area having been put through by Reeves down the left.
West were punished for their missed chances to the full as the resolute West defence was finally breached from open play when Vicky Booth’s effort from 30 yards was deflected over Jefferson and into the top corner to the delight of the visiting bench on 81 minutes.
However West weren’t to be denied and with four minutes remaining countered from a Warrington attack which fell into the path of Livseey who handed West a famous victory when her hard struck effort deflected into the bottom right hand corner.
West will now travel to Blackpool on Sunday 17th Septemberin the Second Qualifying Round.
West: Jefferson, Caddick, O’Neil, L.Turner, J.Turner, Bracegirdle, Kerr, Edmondson, Reeves, McFadyen, Livesey. Subs: Hodges, Croasdale, Carson-Parker. Subs Not Used: Callaghan, Friel.
Goalscorers: Livesey (2), Bracegirdle
Warrington: Simpson, Wild, Parkinson, Dobson, Hood, Unsworth, Booth, Lee, Ayrton, Chatterley, Hassall. Subs: Crook, Whitehead, Hutton.
Goalscorers: Booth (2)
