Dale Women exited the Manchester FA Women’s Challenge Cup yesterday afternoon, losing 4-1 to Bury FC Women in the quarter-finals.
Lee Atkinson’s side faced a tough test, playing a team who are two divisions above Dale.
A hat-trick from Murron Alldread and a goal from Rhia Dickins saw Bury progress to the semi-finals of the competition.
Ellie Fergus scored a consolation for Dale, who can exit the competition with their heads held high.
Dale had the first chance of the game with Alicia Barnett firing goalwards, following a good Dale move, which included a flick-on from Jodie Cocker and a pass from Fergus to set up Barnett.
Only two minutes later, Bury had their first effort. The ball seemed to ricochet about before finding Alldread, who fired into the top left corner from the right side of the Dale box.
The chances in the first-half for Atkinson’s side were limited, with Fergus having a couple of long-range efforts, which didn’t really trouble the Bury number one too much.
Down the other end, Emily Salt, in between the sticks for Dale, made several superb saves to keep her side in the game in the first-half.
Salt saved a number of long-range efforts, being forced to pluck some of the shots out of the air, diving low to her left and right, as well as making a save with her legs.
Bury did score a second just after the half-hour mark, but it was ruled offside by the referee.
Shortly after, the ball clattered against the Dale bar before Salt made yet another save to deny Bury from extending their lead.
Bury’s pressure soon paid off. Dickins’ effort from range nestled into the top corner, doubling the lead for her side.
Just before half-time, the Dale keeper was called into action again, denying the Bury striker from scoring after breaking through the Dale defence and getting one one-on-one with Salt.
Following that, the Dale shot stopper then made a superb double save, earning a round of applause from all the spectators.
Lee Atkinson’s side had their number one to thank at half-time, as Dale were still very much in the game.
Shannon Gill, who came off the bench for Dale, seemed to have the Bury keeper beaten early in the second-half. However, her long-range effort travelled just wide.
Two minutes after that chance, Alldread turned home a cross from the right-hand side for Bury, putting the score at 3-0.
Dale responded quickly though. Just four minutes after going further behind, Salt’s long kick forward eventually found its way to Fergus, who again fired towards goal from range, this time beating the keeper and finding the back of the net.
It was almost two goals in two minutes for Dale. Fergus flicked the ball onto Gill, who nodded the ball away from the challenging defender, before seeing her shot strike the post. Agonisingly close for Dale!
Gill had two more chances in the half, one of which was held by the Bury keeper, and the other travelled well wide following a brilliant Dale move.
As the game headed into its final moments, on a dark, wet afternoon in Manchester, Alldread completed her hat-trick with four minutes to go, earning her side a 4-1 victory.
A spirited second-half performance from Dale, but it was not to be for Lee Atkinson’s side.
Dale Women will now turn their attention to their Lancashire FA Womens Challenge Cup tie against Colne FC Ladies next Sunday.