Sheffield hit for six after selection fears

The gulf between the full-time Women’s Super League and parttime Championship was reinforced by last night’s Continental Cup.

Sheffield United Women manager Carla Ward feared she would be without up to six first-team players for the tie against Manchester City – which City won 6-0 – because they would not be able to leave work in time for the 7pm kick-off.

The time had been agreed at the start of the season but United only contacted City on Nov 29 to discuss putting it back.

City were unable to comply as they had already sold tickets and booked stadium staff.

In the event, United were without three players but did not know who would be available until noon. Ward said: “I’ll be honest, I did have a grievance in the sense that I was furious the FA would even put a 7pm kick-off time on it, but then I’ve heard that it was agreed with somebody from our club.

“I’ve been asking for months and weeks, ‘Make sure we get this changed’. Then I found out that our general manager only put that [request] in last week.

“That’s a whole different kettle of fish, so we definitely can’t moan about that bit.

“It’s one of those things. It’s a midweek cup game. Any level where the girls are not full-time, it’s a struggle getting them all there. I don’t want it to look like we’re being negative, because far from it with this fixture. I said to the young girls that it’s a great opportunity for them to go and show what we’re about.

“You’d hope next season it would be a discussion point, where if it’s a part-time club travelling, they should really have a say on what time kick-off is.”

Durham travelled to Manchester United, also for a 7pm kick-off, but had “never had those issues”, Lee Sanders, the manager, said.

“We’ll be turning the senior side out. We’ll be travelling with a full squad, aside from players who are injured or suspended.

“We’re probably a different model to a lot of clubs in the Championship. They don’t all work – we have some contracted players and players who study as well. We’ve planned quite well in advance.

The strong line-up was reflected by the fact United won only 1-0.