06 February 2020

  The Eccles Sixth Form College Women showed their strength in depth as the squad were capable of playing two fixtures simultaneously.   With Eccles Sixth Form College having a large squad this season the Women’s squad players have found their game time limited. With this in mind on Wednesday we invited more than one team in to play the Eccles Sixth Form venue in order to have two games running at once.   With a squad size of eighteen on the day we split our women’s squad into two teams with one facing off against Connell College in a friendly game and the other team playing the league fixture against Blackpool & Fylde.   Both games started off at a frantic pace with goals going in from all sides early on. With the half time looming, the frenetic pace was starting and the break was welcome by the time the half time whistle blew. The Eccles teams went into the half time down in both games (Eccles 1 Vs Blackpool & Fylde 3, Eccles 3 Vs Connell College 5). With both teams falling short in the same areas, the half time talk was done collectively and the teams entered their respective pitches for the second half.   Signs of improvement were evident right from the start and the team playing Blackpool and Fylde had levelled the game up after only five minutes after the re-start. On the opposite pitch the Eccles team halved the deficit only for Connel to quickly restore their two-goal cushion. Both games ebbed and flowed with both of the Eccles teams applying pressure and looking to secure wins.   With only moments to go on the Blackpool and Fylde game, Charlotte Reed quickly closed down the goal keeper and blocked the clearance which rebounded into the empty net and gave the Eccles girls the lead. A lead they managed to see through to the final whistle giving them a deserved win in this league game. Final score Eccles 6th Form College 6 Blackpool & Fylde College 5.   On the opposite pitch the Eccles team were not so fortunate. With 3 minutes to go in the game they once again pulled within a goal of their opposition, this was as close as they got however. When pressing for the equaliser the Eccles women were caught on a counter attack and the forward player for the opposition finished calmly into the corner of the net to all but end the tie.  Final score Eccles Sixth Form CollegeConnel College 7.  
Coach Ciarán Donnelly said: “This was a great run out for our team and it’s been a testament to these players and the rest of the squad that we’ve had the numbers to put two teams on the pitch on the one fixture date.”   “The experience that all players will have got on the day and the additional playing time will only stand to them for the rest of the season.”  
If you would like to find out more about studying Sport at Eccles Sixth Form College, contact them on 0161 631 5000 or by emailing enquiries@salfordcc.ac.uk