COUNTY 2 ASTON VILLA 0

County ended a run of only one win in six, with a 2-0 success against Aston Villa, which takes them above their opponents, into fifth spot.

Keeleigh Savage was twice on target, in a six-minute spell, either side of the interval. The first, a half-volley when she got onto the end of a Caroline Price cross and the second a header, after the Villa keeper deflected a powerful Krystle Johnson shot onto the crossbar.

The Hatters played probably their best football of the season so far with Caroline Price, Tracy Sloane and Nikki Daniels all going close.

ASTON VILLA RESERVES 2 COUNTY RESERVES 2
County win 4-2 on penalties

In a slow start, it took County five minutes to make their first attack, Hayley Marshall shooting low just past the post from distance.

Ten minutes later, with County looking a little disjointed, Laura Bowater made a good save, and released the ball quickly, it was rapidly worked up to Katie Sweeney who turned in the left of the penalty box to shoot over the goalkeeper.

County then began to play more fluent football, Katie Sweeney shooting just over from a Georgina Watton long ball.

On 24 minutes a great Carley Davies left foot cross was just touched away from the County attackers, and for the next 10 minutes Villa survived several shots from Jane Fox, and a succession of four corners before the half ended, with County playing good football and well on top.

As in the first meeting some weeks ago, Villa came back strongly in the second half, the Hatters were under pressure, and Laura Bowater had to save low to her left just three minutes into the half.

On 55 minutes Villa hit the bar, and then on 63 minutes Villa's dangerous number 10 beat the visitors' defence to shoot from a narrow angle over Laura Bowater to equalise. The game was now a battle to gain an advantage, and both teams fought hard to keep chances to a minimum till the end of normal time.

In the first half of extra-time County again stepped the tempo up after Laura Bowater saved at the edge of the box in the 95^th minute. It paid off after 102 minutes when Jane Fox ran at goal from 30 yards to cut inside and hit a shot which the keeper got a hand to but could not keep out.

But, again, the change of ends saw the control of the game change in Villa's favour, and now it was County under pressure again, but they held out until a minute to go when the number 10 pounced again to finish, three Stockport defenders almost clearing the ball, taking the game into penalties.

County scored four of their penalties (Jane Fox, Claire Tenzer, Sarah Stones and Georgina Watton) after Nikki Connor's shot hit the angle of bar and post.

Laura Bowater made two fantastic saves to take the team into the next round of the cup.

Team : Laura Bowater, Jane Webb, Georgina Watton, Nat Palmer, Nicola Connor, Claire Tenzer, Carley Davies, Katie Sweeney (Sarah Stones 75), Hayley Marshall(Sally Wood 68), Claire Fitzpatrick (Kerisia Cooke 16) Jane Fox.

Player of the match: Laura Bowater

GREAT SUTTON 3 COUNTY HNR 1
Challenge Cup

A much improved HNR Side appeared this Sunday, the team was missing some key players but it didn't really show as they pulled together to produce an excellent game of football.

HNR found themselves a goal behind within the opening 15 minutes but it didn't last long before we equalised through a great run and shot from Sammy Toner.

HNR had many chances to get in front but some good tackling frustrated the strikers.

Sue Walsh made some excellent saves at the other end and the defence of HNR had much more strength than last week.

However, with about 30 minutes remaining Great Sutton got their second goal and HNR were then chasing the game.

HNR were caught on the break just before the end and Great Sutton scored a third goal.

Hopefully HNR will return to winning ways next week in the league when they face Winsford Ladies away.

Man of the Match: Karen Weeden

Squad: Sue Walsh, Bev McDonald, Kelly Wilson, Karen Weeden, Carol Plant, Adele Hollingsworth, Amy Tinsley, Clare Richardson, Sammy Toner, Louise Allwood, Dani Moran, Jill Godleman, Becky Evans.

UNDER-13s

This was a rollercoaster of a cup-tie worthy of the final and a fantastic advertisement for girls' football with both teams committed to attacking football of the highest quality.

In the 1st Round of the Challenge Cup, County came up against Urmston Meds who were unbeaten so far this season.

Urmston took the game to County from the first whistle and were two goals up inside seven minutes. It could have been worse if it hadn't been for a string of fine saves from goalkeeper, Rebekka Chetwyn who Urmston players voted as County's Player of the Match.

County finally settled down and began to create a few chances but could not pull a goal back to ease their nerves. Most of the closing stages were played in County's half and Urmston took advantage with a well-taken goal to increase their lead.

With half-time approaching Holly Mottershead grabbed a lifeline for County with a well-taken strike.

It was a determined County that started the 2nd half and although they came close to scoring on a number of occasions, it just seemed like it was going to be one of those days when Libby Nolan popped up to give County hope.

Urmston were now being forced to defend their slender lead as County pressed for the equaliser which finally came courtesy of a close range effort by Claire Lee on 55 minutes, and it was Claire who again managed to find the net a few minutes later to give County a deserved lead to complete an amazing turnaround.

Unfortunately, their joy was to be short-lived as Urmston cut through County's defence straight from the restart to even the match and to make matters worse for County, they restored their lead a few minutes later.

But County hadn't quite thrown in the towel yet and with players committed to attack were rewarded in the final minute of time added on by the referee for an injury to an Urmston player by an excellent strike from Tiree Vallance.

Full-Time: 5-5.

Extra time was played at the same blistering pace with opportunities for both teams but it was County who struck first with Cory Fritz taking full advantage of confusion in the Urmston defence just before half-time.

With the County players sensing a famous victory, Urmston won possession in midfield and went on to equalise, and just when both teams seemed to settle for the match to be concluded by the dreaded penalty shoot-out, Urmston took advantage of County's lack of concentration in the dying seconds to head home from close range.

This was an exhilarating cup-tie played at a breathtaking pace throughout its entire 90 minutes and the County players can be proud of the part they played in dragging themselves back into a match which, midway through the 1st half was starting to look beyond them.

UNDER 11s

The Under-11s won 8-2 against Unicorn.

Goalscorers were Player of the Match Katie Ward, (4), Bethany Clarke, (2), Emily Broadbent and Laura McDonald.