Playing in the FAWPL South East Division One, Cambridge WFC were playing host to their counterparts, Cheltenham Town LFC, the Gloucestershire side competing in the South West Division One. Both teams had lost their opening day league fixtures last weekend so the cup match represented a good opportunity to get their season going with victory taking them into the 1st round proper.
The venue Ely City FC, the weather was fantastic for a game of football bright and sunny, few dark clouds around but nothing to worry about.
Cambridge WFC starting XI - Liz Pamplin, Emma Jenkins, Jordan Holland, Kayleigh-Anne Burt, Rebecca Fay, Millie Turner, Hannah Bodily, Laura Bright (C), Becky Russell, Faith Hewitt & Nuala Wayne.
Cheltenham Town Ladies starting XI - Ashleigh Lebbon, Anna Dennis, Natalie Berry, Emily Skipp, Kirsty Dunleavy (C), Rhona Donaldson, Jade Wiltshire, Katie Walker, Jen Brown-Wealls & Kim Hewlett.
Cambridge were lined up in their new home kit unveiled last weekend, sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts, the shirts featuring the name of new sponsor Sepura. It was Cheltenham to kick off the match wearing what would be best described as a rust coloured kit with white trim upon the shirts and shorts.
There was however nothing rusty about the visitors start as they won the ball back from Cambridge and launched it forwards, it looked very close to being offside as striker Kim Hewlett burst free with the Cambridge defence pressed up close to the half way line, no flag Hewlett has the ball runs into the box and slots it past Cambridge goalkeeper Liz Pamplin to give Cheltenham the lead in the 1st minute of the match 0-1.
Cambridge look to go forwards using their wide players to get into goood crossing positions the ball is played into striler Nuala Wayne waiting at the corner of the penalty box, has a tentative strike towards goal, Cheltenham goalkeeper Ashleigh Lebbon isn't troubled.
Pamplin makes a save as Cheltenham's Emily Skipp finds herself free to shoot inside the box having made a strong run down the left wing.
Cambridge are getting the better of the possession Hannah Bodily and captain Laura Bright working hard in midfield, steadily work the ball forwards to Millie Turner who plays the ball from a central position out to Becky Russell on the left wing, she puts a good cross into the six yard box, Wayne can't get to the ball before Lebbon claims.
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| Cambridge's Laura Bright (C) & Hannah Bodily |
Faith Hewitt for Cambridge crosses the ball in from the left Cheltenham concede a corner, played in by Russell into the near post it comes out to Wayne who shoots from outside the box the ball travelling through a crowd of players Lebbon does well to take it.
In Cheltenham's midfield Rhona Donaldson is strong on the ball, looking to get forwards to supporting the attackers almost finds herself through to shoot on goal pulls the trigger, the block comes in from Cambridge's Jordan Holland diving to prevent her.
Jen Brown-Wealls for Cheltenham running with the ball into the right channel puts in a good cross, Holland gets her head on the ball to clear as Hewlett tries to reach it.
From a Cambridge corner defender Kayleigh-Anne Burt volleys the ball from outside the box the attempt on goal going wide.
Cheltenham's Hewlett strals the ball from the Cambridge defence, opts to shoot quickly the effort from outside of the box swerving goes straight into Pamplin's gloves.
Keeping the ball in Cambridge's final third for a spell, the shot on goal comes in from Donaldson on the half volley the ball going over the crossbar.
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| Cheltenham's Rhona Donaldson |
Cambridge get the ball up the pitch quickly down the right as Turner and Jenkins link up well, get the ball into Wayne, on the right outside the box Cheltenham don't close her down, a good strike she puts the ball into the back of the net to equalise 1-1.
The pressing is all Cambridge's as the half draws to and end Wayne with another effort from the same spot, this time shoots over, with Hewitt and Russell both having the ball at their feet inside the box only for Cheltenham's Anna Dennis to win it back on both occasions.
Half-time Cambridge WFC 1-1 Cheltenham Town Ladies
An entertaining 1st half with both teams working extremely hard the ball travelling up and down the pitch at a fast pace Cambridge despite the early set back enjoying more sustained spells of possession pulling the scores level before the break all to play for 2nd half as they kicked off.
Cheltenham making a change at the break bringing on Abbi Pearce for Natalie Berry. Cheltenham's captain Kirsty Dunleavy is called into action to deny Wayne a scoring chance as she takes the ball into the box.
Early in the half Cambridge a pushing Cheltenham back win a corner it is only half cleared the ball coming back into a crowded penalty box the referee spots a trip and a penalty is given. It's Laura Bright to step up and take the kick placing the ball on the spot she sends Lebbon the wrong way to give the home side the lead 2-1.
Cheltenham make their 2nd substitution Catherine Reilly coming on for Jen Brown-Wealls. Cambridge though continue their good start to the 2nd half Russell playing in a corner to the centre it's Holland who rises to meet the ball but directs it wide.
Faith Hewitt bursts into the Cheltenham box with the ball looks to pass to Turner in a central position, Lebbon saves, the loose ball comes back to Hewitt who shots Lebbon tries to get back stop the ball going over the line, the linesman indicates it crosses the line and Cambridge lead 3-1.
Wayne has a shot from 25 yards that flies over the bar, then shortly after the referee allows the advantage after she is fouled with Hewitt on the ball she shoots wide.
Chances for Cheltenham are rare in the 2nd half they cannot get the ball up the pitch quick enough Hewlett does manage to get a cross in from the left the ball is headed over at the far post.
Cambridge make a change Hannah Bodily coming off, Hannah Goodchild coming on. Wayne makes a strong run cutting in from the left on the by line sees Turner central on the six yard line plays her in Turner tries to divert the ball into the open net with the inside of her foot, gets too much on the attempt sends the ball wide.
Sophie Thompson comes on for Cambridge replacing Faith Hewitt. Has an early chance to shoot too as Wayne sees her run and plays her in the shot is blocked on the edge of the box, Cheltenham break through Hewlett, Cambridge concede a corner from the cross. The ball coms out to the left from the setpiece Hewlett hits the ball on the run Pamplin is behind it to take the catch.
Thompson is onto a good through ball breaks forwards into the box is pushed a little wide of goal by Dennis who does well to block her shot gives away a corner. This corner leads to a serious amount of pinball inside the six yard box, somehow Lebbon avoids getting kicked to death and eventually claim the ball.
The clock ticking down Katie Walker has a pop from 30 yards the shot blazes over. Hewlett takes a free kick 30 yards out from goal the strike again straight at Pamplin.
Last break for Cambridge, Wayne is onside, Lebbon comes rushing off her line does enough to put her off as Wayne sends the ball wide. Full time and Cambridge win 3-1 and progress to the next round of the FAWPL League Cup.
Cheltenham despite losing the tie get a 2nd chance of competing for silverware as they enter FAWPL Plate. Take a look at the FAWPL's official twitter feed @FA_WPL for more details.
A good win for Cambridge after suffering such an early setback very strong in the 2nd half creating plenty of goal scoring chances.
Cheltenham will undoubtedly be disappointed with the loss, a long way to travel too. Good to see a women's team from another part of the country play and I wish them all the best for the season.
The draw for both the FAWPL League Cup and Plate take place tomorrow, Monday 1st September.
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