Pre-Match:

Traversing the M62 is swiftly becoming a task as arduous as any Odysseus undertook on his own epic journey. Truth be told, driving along that asphalt route over the Pennines has long been a tiresome journey. On Sunday evening it excelled itself in its ability to sap the spirit from even the most upbeat and inoffensive of drivers. Even in my best moments, I am neither.

We – that being Daughter-No1, Son-In-Law-No1 and myself – had only just hit the motorway when those fickle and scheming gods decided to update the SatNav with a revised time for our arrival at Leigh Sports Village (LSV). Our usual hour (more or less) drive over was going to take nearly ninety minutes. The duration of an entire football match to get there! Outrageous. Lane closures and an accident contributing to the time-added-on. I could relate to how old Odysseus must have felt as the capricious gods toyed with him, dragging his own journey on…and on…….and on.

So, on at one junction and off at the very next. With just a scant few miles separating our entry and exit from the motorway. We soon joined a convoy of red tail lights slowly navigating the A-roads that cross the wine-dark hills linking God’s own country to the domain of the Red Rose. Despite being home to my Red Devilettes, that neighbouring county is still, technically, enemy land. Even to an adopted Yorkshireman such as me. I qualify as a dour Tyke due to my many years of residency in the land of the White Rose. And, I suppose, by marrying a Yorkshire lass. I long ago learnt that “Bratfud” is the correct – and only – way to pronounce Bradford. I cannot even bring myself to type the word Lancashire.

Our ETA was showing as 1827. KO set for 1845. That would just about give us time to park up and make the ten-minute or so walk to the stadium. With luck would get to our seats just as the match kicked-off. We briefly discussed turning around and going back home. The match was on SKY Sports and we could simply watch from the comfort of the sofa. Avoid all the travel stress and nuisance. But that’s not really how to support your team is it? Having come so far already, we’d probably have struggled to get back home for kick-off. Besides, it was the first time this season that the three of us could actually attend the same match. Liam’s shift patterns and child-care for GrandDaughter-No1 meant it was either Liam or Bethany who had been able to come with me to the games so far. One more than one occasion, just like Odysseus, I had made the trip solo.

So I continued following the tail lights that snaked up hill and down dale, round sharp bends and through small villages. Most of the narrow route lit only as far as my headlights could reach. The red glow of brake lights ahead smearing with each stroke of the wiper blades. Our route criss-crossed the 62; it started on our right then, after miles of white knuckle driving on rain lashed dark country roads, it lay to our left. Casting our eyes to the motorway as it briefly reappeared we were thankful for the diversion offered by those scheming, fickle gods. The M62 was absolutely rammed. All traffic at a standstill, vehicles jostling for position as three lanes narrowed to one. That original journey time would, no doubt, have only increased had we stayed on it. I hoped we’d make it for kick-off.

Earlier that afternoon Chelsea had hosted Arsenal. (They won 1-0 thanks to a penalty won by the tricky, mercurial Lauren James in the Lioness’s first game back from injury.) Before the game started, Chelsea introduced a new signing to over 34,000 adoring fans inside Stamford Bridge. Twenty-four year-old Naomi Girma, a United States international, is widely recognised as the best defender in the world. Chelsea had just paid – get this – one-point-one-million dollars to land her. $1,100,000. ONE. POINT. ONE. MILLION. Wow! A world-record fee for a player in the women’s game. Her signing is some statement of intent to the rest of the WSL; Chelsea, running way with the title for yet another year and already blessed with an array of top-quality talent, are asking questions of the chasing clubs. “Think you can strengthen to reach our level? By the time you get here, we’ll already be out of sight.” In fact, are they even asking a question? More likely they are simply stating a fact.

As I drove, I wondered if Manchester United would do something similar for our fans. Last week, on the day of the derby match, reputable sources claimed that Chloe Kelly would be making the switch from City to United. That tantalising morsel of info got me somewhat excited. Now, eight days on, I was still hopeful that my favourite Lioness – who couldn’t love Kelly after her Euro Final winner, her brief glance at the lino to check the goal would stand and then her ecstatic shirt-twirling celebration – would become a Red. And, after Chelsea’s example, I had high hopes of seeing her unveiled before kick-off. It seemed such an obvious thing to do for the fans. I was already planning to get a United shirt with her name on the back. It would sit nicely alongside my England “KELLY 18” shirt. Club AND country, isn’t that the phrase?

Only two things stood in my way. One, I had to make it the stadium in time.

And, two, Chloe actually had to sign for us

The Match:

As it turned out, we made it to our seats with a full seven minutes to spare. I even had time to buy a programme and nip to the loo when I got into the ground – result! Liam and Bethany managed to grab a coffee. It was later than we like to arrive at a game but, still, quite comfortable in the end. So much for the fretful drive over. Take that, fickle gods!

Ella Toone received a short pass from Elizabeth Terland – playing against her former club – and took one touch. Ella then hit a right-footed shot that bent beyond the dive of Sophie Baggaley in the Brighton goal. Toone wheeled away after scoring her fifth goal since returning from injury. Her smile grows wider and brighter with each game and each goal. Her delighted teammates ran to join her. I was out of my seat and celebrating. As I leapt around like a Muppet high on Haribo, I spotted the stadium clock. The red LED numbers flipping languidly; 2.03. 2.04. 2.05. An early goal does wonders to settle the nerves.

Just over ten on the clock when Hinata Miyazawa drilled a low right-footed shot into the far corner of the goal. Our Japan international gets better with every game. Her poise and calmness on the ball improving with each minute she plays. Her choice of pass and her timing of tackles getting better with every appearance for United. A second early goal also does wonders for the nerves.

Brighton offered little in the first half, a tad more after the break. But United were imperious. We should have added more to the score line as the game progressed. We eventually got a third when Norway international Celin Bizet Ildhusøy took possession midway into the Brighton half. She straightened before hitting a shot. I was sat right behind the goal and was prepared to try to catch the ball; I was convinced the shot was going to ping right over the crossbar and into our stand. It seems that Baggaley must have thought the same. Instead, the ball dipped just a little and flew straight past the keeper as she dived valiantly to keep it out. Bizet seemed very pleased – possibly surprised – with her goal.

The 3-0 win over Brighton saw a solid – if not sensational – display from the United team. Our Lionesses looked especially impressive and really caught the eye. Toone was busy, bustling, bristling with determination; Gabby George was athletic, dominant and decisive on the left of defence, gelling seamlessly with international defensive teammates Maya Le Tissier and Millie Turner in the middle of the back four. Late on, Grace Clinton came on for Toone and performed admirably, looking classy, cool and collected in midfield. It bodes well for club – and country – that they are performing so well this season. United are up to second in the table, seven points behind leaders Chelsea. A Champions League place for next season is not out of the question.

During the match we chatted with the two girls (women, lasses?) who sit behind us. We’ve chatted with them before. Like us they are Lionesses fans and, as with Liam and I, they were hoping to get tickets to the Euro’s this year. It turns out that one of them was successful in the ticket ballot. Consequently they are going to see all three Lionesses games! All three! France, Netherland and Wales. Lucky (red) devils. They even have tickets for all the quarter-finals.

One of the girls is staying in Switzerland for a staggering sixteen days during the tournament! SIXTEEN DAYS! In Switzerland? She must be loaded. Or maybe she’s robbed a bank? Her friend is staying for an equally impressive ten days and actually flies out of Manchester on the very same flight as Liam and I. Liam has already said he thinks our flight – on the morning of the England versus Netherlands match – will be full of England fans. I think he may be right.

Post Match

I am writing this on the Tuesday afternoon after the Brighton match. As yet that second thing has yet to occur. The January transfer window closes in a little over 48 hours and I’m still waiting for that wonderful Lioness to join my Reds. Chloe Kelly isn’t getting any minutes at City and Sarina Wiegman needs an on-form and match-fit Kelly in the Euro squad. I truly hope Chloe signs for United. As I wait for her to scribble her name on a contract, I’m dreaming of the penalties we will be awarded. I can already see Kelly’s glorious “hopity-skipity” run-up before she unleashes the spot-kick past the flailing opposition keeper and turns in celebration towards the crowd.

Red.

I’ll be out of my seat and cheering like a Tangfastic-fuelled Muppet when she does. For club. And for country.