Report: UCFB Women’s Team leave it till late to seal a league title win in a dramatic encounter

Esme Critchley’s side emerged victorious in the game at Curzon Ashton in a 2-1 win against Salford. Not just emerging as victorious in the game, but also now in the league with Lara Watts’ last minute free-kick winner proving to be the killing blow to Salford’s title dreams, sliding past their goalkeeper to win the game for UCFB, and to win the league for UCFB in the dying seconds of a game between two real teams.

The day was right for a real tough game of football. It was less the old saying of, “can they do it on a rainy night in Stoke?” and it was more, “can they do it on a rainy afternoon in Ashton”. The clouds were grey, the pitch was slippery, the wind was blowing fast and the temperature was ebbing and flowing between -1 and zero degrees. All the right conditions for a “proper” game of football, as many of the older fans of football would put it.

Salford got the game underway in their yellow and black kit, and UCFB were in their grey home kit. The game began and it was a mad scrap for the ball. Both teams seemed caught in two minds, between looking to settle down and keep possession, or going forward at pace to try and apply instant pressure on the other, maybe even an early goal to set an early tone. As such, the first 10 minutes were a cagey clash with no real dominant team or big moments.

As the half progressed, chances did start to emerge for the home side. UCFB’s number 14 was slipped in behind the Salford defence via a great pass from their number 6. This left her one versus one with the Salford keeper, who stood her ground and blocked what could’ve been the opener for UCFB in the first part of the half. It was a chance wasted for UCFB, but that did not demoralise them at all. They kept fighting for the opener, and it came.

A UCFB corner was not decisively dealt with by Salford, and the ball fell on the edge of the box to UCFB’s number 14. She unleashed a go-for-broke shot, and lady luck granted her a massive deflection, resulting in the breakthrough for UCFB. She ran to the coaching staff and celebrated ecstatically with them and her teammates. A strong start for the home side, and the pressure was on for Salford, who’s title hopes were in big trouble of being extinguished.

The game continued on, and Salford were on top. Despite going a goal up, UCFB lost grip of the game and Salford were running, tackling and battling to get the equalizer. UCFB did however come close to getting a second goal completely against the run of play. Number 14 cut inside from the right wing, and tried to bend it past the Salford keeper, who could do nothing but stand and watch as the ball curled past her and onto the post. A big let-off for Salford, who were due a reminder of UCFB’s danger despite their current dominance.

Salford seemed to take the hint, as they then started to re-apply the pressure on UCFB. They had a chance identical to UCFB’s early chance, with Salford’s number 10 being slipped in behind. However, just like before, the goalkeeper stood firm and forced the shot wide for a Salford corner. A corner in which another chance fell to Salford, with number 7 heading just wide. They were really pounding on the door, and eventually it would swing open.

A free kick was granted to Salford in a very dangerous area. It was swung into a crowd of players, and lady luck dealt a bad hand to UCFB’s number 5, who rose highest to clear the ball, only to end up accidentally heading it past her own keeper and into her own net. It was a deserved equaliser for Salford who had been very dominant, but it was an equaliser of UCFB’s own making. To UCFB’s credit, they did surround their number 5 and give her words of encouragement.

The closing stages of the half saw lots of Salford possession but no real chances. Halftime couldn’t’ve come at a better time for UCFB, as Salford had firmly established their grip in the game, having complete control of the ball and not letting UCFB have a sniff. The whistle blew and both teams headed down to their respective dressing rooms, both for a team talk and probably go also get out of the cold.

The second half commenced with a UCFB kick-off, and the halftime seemed to have worked, as they came flying out. They were running harder, controlling the ball better and generally had more fight in them. Salford’s dominance seemed to have lit a fire in UCFB and they were beginning to get chances again. Yet another one on one chance fell to UCFB, but their number 7 fired just wide.

It was a massive waste in a game that was becoming increasingly frantic. Salford’s number 14 managed to get herself booked as tackles began flying in from both sides. And then, a tackle just outside the box led to massive penalty shouts. It was given as a free kick, and up stepped Lara Watts.

She placed the ball down, took 3 steps back, and curled the ball round the Salford wall and into the bottom corner. Incredible. UCFB had won the league in the 89th minute. Not quite the Aguero moment seen at their very own campus, but that didn’t matter. The final whistle blew, and the celebrations commenced. A real war of attrition at Curzon, and a fantastic end to the game and the season. Salford were in a nightmare, UCFB were in dreamland.