University of Manchester Show Newcomers How It’s Done

ANNIHILATION was expected and annihilation was what Lancaster got. After being promoted at the end of last season by default, Lancaster were playing a University of Manchester team who has narrowly missed promotion to the BUSA Premier League for the last two years.

Although 9-1 is an embarrassing score for the visitors, the goal difference should have been a lot higher. After an impressive match from the pressured Lancaster goalkeeper, many of the University of Manchester’s chances at goal were denied.

With the first goal being scored after only five minutes by Jules Butterworth from one of many short corners, it looked as though the destruction of Lancaster had begun early, however, the first half did not end as decisively as was hoped. After Manchester’s second goal was scored by Katherine Diane Savage, they conceded their only goal of the match during a phase where Lancaster seemed determined to fight back, displaying an ability to attack. This was short lived, and only lasted until the half time whistle- a second goal from the national level player Savage left the score at 3-1.

The scoring of one goal seemed to wear Lancaster University’s attack out, as they only moved into the opposition’s half on three notable occasions during the entire second half. After fifteen minutes of constant defending they seemed unsure as to what do when the ball drifted over the half way line, and hung back waiting for the inevitable onslaught from Manchester. The Lancaster University goalkeeper, unlike the rest of the team, was not able to abandon her role on the pitch, and saved many more shots than were put past her.

Kate Maltman, another of the team’s national level players, scored twice, beating five and then nine players on her respective runs to goal. Captain Vicky Speed managed to turn one of many goal line scrambles into a score as the ball was sent skirting round the keeper, setting up Speed’s looping shot into the goal. Shortly after this Savage set up the team’s sixth goal by beating almost the entire Lancaster University team, ending in a deflection off Laura Allen.

A second goal for Allan followed later, after a ball through the goalies legs from Harriet Caruana, averting yet another skirmish on the goal line with the over-worked Lancaster University keeper. The ninth and last goal came just before the final whistle from Rachel Thomas (aka Yellow Socks), ending the first game of the season- and indeed the University of Manchester’s lesson in goalscoring directed at an ungrateful Lancaster team.