Bury FC Development Team faced off against De La Salle FC Women in a thrilling cup encounter at the De La Salle Sports & Social Club on 17 November 2024. The match kicked off at 2:00pm and ended with Bury emerging victorious with a scoreline of 2-1, securing their place in the next round of the competition.
Bury lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, designed to provide both defensive stability and attacking flair. Ava Powell took her position as the goalkeeper, while the back four consisted of Eleanor Irvine on the right, Jade Kilduff and Gemma Kershaw as central defenders, and Katie Worsick on the left. In midfield, Charlotte Pearson and Natalie Kirk operated as central midfielders, tasked with linking play and providing support to the attacking trio. Rubi Leach occupied the right attacking midfield role, with Devon Booth on the left, and Danielle Halton playing behind Gemma Hodcroft who was tasked with leading the line as the striker.
The substitutes for Bury included Rachel Todd, Jane Mechen, and Fran Sharples, who were poised to make an impact should the need arise.
The match began with Bury probing for an early advantage, but they wasted several early chances, and it proved costly as it was De La Salle FC Women who struck first in the 35th minute. A well-placed shot from the right foot of an opponent found the back of the net, putting Bury on the back foot as they trailed 1-0. However, the Bury side responded swiftly, with Devon Booth equalising just three minutes later. A clever short pass from Natalie Kirk set Booth up and she skipped past the last defender weaving her way in to the box, and she finished confidently with her left foot to level the score at 1-1.
In a tactical move, Bury made their first substitution immediately after the equaliser, bringing on Rachel Todd for Charlotte Pearson in the 38th minute. The first half concluded with the teams level at 1-1, but Bury was clearly buoyed by their quick response.
Bury made another substitution at half-time, introducing Jane Mechen for Katie Worsick. As the pitch was now starting to resemble a tough mudder course! The tactical adjustments paid off in the 68th minute when Danielle Halton put Bury ahead. A precise short pass from Gemma Hodcroft found Halton, who struck with her right foot to rattle the crossbar and post only to see the ball bounce along the line before the keeper made sure it found the back of the net making it 2-1.
Bury made further changes to maintain their advantage, with Fran Sharples coming on for Rubi Leach in the 65th minute. Later, in the 78th minute, Charlotte Pearson returned to the pitch, replacing Gemma Hodcroft, while Rubi Leach also re-entered the fray, taking the place of Eleanor Irvine.
The match concluded with Bury FC Development Team holding on to their lead, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory over De La Salle FC Women. Natalie Kirk's influential performance in midfield earned her the accolade of Player of the Match, as she played a pivotal role in both the defensive and attacking phases of the game. Bury's resilience and tactical acumen shone through, setting them up for future challenges in the cup competition.
