UCFB Etihad Campus Women 11 – 0 University of Bolton Women

Belle Vue Stadium, Manchester, 08/03/17

By Riegan Thompson

An emphatic 11-0 win saw UCFB secure promotion and the BUCS Northern 4A title to cap a phenomenal first season.

Zoe Stout’s team, who didn’t exist 12 months ago, went into their season finale against Bolton knowing a win would secure an historic title on what was also International Women’s Day.

In the opening exchanges nerves appeared to be getting the better of UCFB, with striker Poppy Hughes missing a number of early chances.

Abbey Smith and Emily Hindle created plenty of opportunities for the hosts and they got their reward in the 14th minute when Smith’s cross found Hughes who kept her head to scramble home.

Ten minutes later Hindle and Hughes linked up again through the middle to double UCFB’s lead. Hughes latched on to a well-timed pass and slotted home her second of the game to ease the tension in the stands, where UCFB were well supported by a vocal crowd.

UCFB came flying out the blocks in the second half. A comedy of errors from Bolton at the back ended with the goalkeeper gifting the ball to Jess Holland who gladly tapped into an empty net.

From there the floodgates opened. Smith continued to run riot down the right and fired home her first goal at the second time of asking. Captain Catherine Archer converted a penalty on 50 minutes to make it five and it was six just minutes later when Smith was again provider for Holland.

Hughes secured her hat-trick after running clean through on goal and slotting home, before Archer grabbed her second of the game with a superb curling effort from 20 yards.

The rout was complete with three quick goals in the last ten minutes. Hughes fired home her fourth from distance before Holland completed her hat trick and then nabbed her fourth goal of the day for what was to be UCFB’s 99th and final goal of an unforgettable season.

UCFB Etihad Campus Women: 1. Kyra Davies, 3. Abbey Smith, 5. Jemma Entwistle, 6. Zoe Stout, 7. Emily Hindle, 8. Jennie McGill, 9. Jess Holland, 11. Emma Thompson, 12. Catherine Archer, 14. Michaela Cassidy, 15. Poppy Hughes, 16. Sorcha Bramhall.