My game of the weekend a trip across Norfolk to see one of the lowest ranked clubs left in the competiton, Norfolk Division One side, Wymondham Town LFC host FAWPL South East Division One side Cambridge WFC.
Wymondham Town LFC have won ties in the previous 2 FA Women's Cup Qualifying rounds beating Newmarket Town Ladies 2-0 away from home in the 1st Qualifying round, then beating Eastern Region Premier Division side Gt Shelford Ladies by the same scoreline at home in the previous round. Now the Norfolk county league side faced an even bigger test in taking on a team playing 3 leagues above them.
Wymondham Town LFC are one of the strongest sides in the Norfolk leagues and will be challenging for the title, would be confident of causing another cup upset today. Cambridge WFC entering the competition and looking to progress to the 1st round proper themselves wouldn't want to suffer the same fate as their Cambridgeshire rivals Gt Shelford as they travelled over to Norfolk on what was a wet and gloomy November day.
Kings Head Meadow the venue where Wymondham Town LFC play there home matches, boasts a nice clubhouse that was serving up a cavery on match day, overlooking the pitch, no covered viewing around the sides it was a day for umbrella's. Still I'm prepared for this coming winter watching women's football have a new coat one that might actually keep me dry, and today it was getting it's 1st run out. With a notepad, camera and now umbrella my multi-tasking skills were going to be put to there limits as the teams came out...
Wymondham Town LFC starting XI - Gemma Hamilton-Rout, Leah Newcombe, Rachel Cossey, Emma Chambers, Mary Cann, Amber Cantwell, Laura Parry (C), Natalie Woods, Kayleigh Holloway, Sally Hammerton & Laura Hammerton.
subs - Louise Hamilton-Rout, Gabby Stone & Georgina Knights.
Cambridge WFC starting XI - Verity Crook, Maria Davies, Liv Abbott, Hannah Goodchild (C), Becca Fay, Emily Reed, Becky Russell, Laura Bright, Faith Hewitt, Laura Baker & Sophie Thompson.
sub - Nuala Wayne.
Cambridge in their kit of sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts, kicked off the 1st half, had brought a small squad up to Norfolk just the one sub in Nuala Wayne, had a few out, Maria Davies promoted from the reserves was making her 1st team debut at right back.
It was Wymondham in their kit of red shirts, black shorts and socks that were the 1st to get the ball into the opponents box, from a quick counter attack the ball played up from the back into the middle and out to Kayleigh Holloway on the left wing, on the run crosses early the ball to close to Cambridge goalkeeper Verity Crook who gets an early touch of the ball.
A cagey opening with both teams winning the ball and then looking to get it forwards, Wymondham confident to attack in force put the Cambridge back line under pressure, both their wide players looking to make runs. Cambridge's Laura Baker looks to play in strike partner Sophie Thompson on a couple of occasions the pass too heavy Wymondham goalkeeper Gemma Hamilton-Rout is able to come off her line and gather.
Winning the ball in the centre Cambridge's Laura Bright pushes out to the left puts a fierce cross along the six yard box, is collected by Becky Russell out on the right she looks to play a cross back into the area, with Sophie Thompson coming in to meet the ball, it is intercepted and headed over by Wymondham's Leah Newcombe for a corner.
Winning the ball from the Cambridge corner, Wymondham are quick to set up a counter attack, the ball coming out to Amber Cantwell on the right she drives forwards, looks to turn her marker and make for the box, inside she looks to stab the ball into the path of Sally Hammerton, puts the ball too close to Crook and she claims the ball.
GOAL! Wymondham have been bright in the opening minutes of the match and take the lead. A direct but effective move from their goalkeeper as Hamilton-Rout kicks the ball out it is headed on by Laura Hammerton in the middle, is collected by Sally Hammerton who then plays the ball into the run of Holloway on the left, head down, Holloway drives into the box and shots early putting it past Crook before she can set herself to make the save 1-0.
Wymondham continue to press forwards, with Cantwell playing in a squared ball from the right to the edge of the box for her captain Laura Parry to have a strike on goal, her attempt wide from 20 yards.
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| The captains battle for the ball, Wymondham's Laura Parry & Cambridge's Hannah Goodchild |
Cambridge get the ball into the final third, holding it up well in the D, Laura Baker looks to find a yard of space turn and shoot, the shot is blocked spins away for a corner. The set-piece is cleared, but only back to it's taker Russell, this time she puts it into the centre of the six yard box it bounces down comes through to Bright at the far post she looks to strike the ball back across the goal the shot cannons off the opposite post and Wymondham clear.
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| Wymondham's Amber Cantwell & Cambridge's Laura Bright |
Wymondham's Sally Hammerton is put through from a deep past beating the offside trap to have a run on goal, with the Cambridge defence recovering and looking to close her down she shoots from 20 yards doesn't get enough on the shot to beat Crook in goal.
The home side are doing well getting numbers forwards in attack, but recovering well and regaining their shape whenever Cambridge win the ball back, the visitors struggling to get the ball up to their strikers. Cambridge are forced into making an early change with midfielder Emily Reed having to come off having picked up a knock, Nuala Wayne comes on.
The change sees Faith Hewitt move from the left of midfield into the centre with Wayne taking up the wide left position. Wayne has an almost immediate impact as she is played through on the left by Bright, shoots from the corner of the box, however Hamilton-Rout is well positioned to gather at her near post.
Wayne is free on the left again as the ball is put into her feet, this time the angle is tighter the shot is put behind the goal. Wymondham fail to clear a Russell cross into the box from the right the ball coming out to Wayne this time she fires over from 25 yards in a central position.
Riding out the spell of Cambridge pressure, Wymondham break, Parry with a great pass in the middle to put in Laura Hammerton, she bursts into the box is free to have a shot, instead opts to pass play in a team mate by then Cambridge have defenders back to win the tackle and recover.
Holloway with another strong run down the left comes back inside, looks to curl a shot in from distance, Crook can see it wide of the post.
Cambridge very nearly have an equaliser before half time as Hamilton-Rout mishandles a shot into her near post from Wayne the, the keeper recovers quickly though and dives to stop the ball from trickling over the line, gets hurt as Thompson trying to get to the ball closes her down. After treatment she is ok to continue.
Half-time Wymondham Town LFC 1-0 Cambridge WFC
A good opening 45 minutes from the home side have been the better side for much of the half playing quick, counter attacking football, have tested the Cambridge back line and gotten in behind on a number of occasions. Cambridge after a slow start have come back into the match making for a more even contest as the half came to a close with Wayne coming on and giving the visitors an extra attack minded player.
The rain has stopped falling it's safe to put the umbrella down as Wymondham kick off the 2nd half. This time it is the visitors who make the brighter start to the half keeping the ball better. Wayne has moved into a central striking role with Baker moving out to the left. In the centre Wayne holds the ball up lays it to her left for Bright then turns and looks for the return ball, it is put back into her on the edge of the box, she pulls her shot wide of goal.
Liv Abbott makes a good tackle at the back with Sally Hammerton looking to pass the ball into Laura Hammerton on the edge of the box.
Wymondham continue to do well working the ball down the left of the pitch, this time it's Holloway who wins the ball and starts an attack links up with Natalie Woods in the centre they play a good one two, before Holloway tries to thread a ball through for Sally Hammerton in the middle, a little too much on the ball gives Crook a chance to come and claim it.
Cambridge's, Bright with a good ball out to Russell wide right, she keeps the ball well evading a challenge and puts a cross into the box, looks a safe catch for Hamilton-Rout, only her defender heads it away from her gloves the ball, falls to Thompson inside the box, who takes an instinctive shot, puts her effort over the bar.
Wymondham break, the move down the right this time, Newcombe with the ball at her feet pushes forwards, passes it into Laura Hammerton wide on the right, her cross comes into the box finds Sally Hammerton on the turn she shots, puts the ball into the side netting.
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| Wymondham's Laura Hammerton |
GOAL! It's the equaliser Cambridge have been looking for, good work from Maria Davies working in tandem with Russell on the right of the pitch the latter winning a corner, coming in from the right, it is a great delivery into the centre of the goal at a good height it's Wayne who rises to try and meet it with her head, misses it narrowly but it comes down hits a red shirt and is diverted into the net managing to find a way past the keeper and the defender marking the post, an unfortunate own goal 1-1.
The goal gives Cambridge a lift as they look to press for a 2nd. Thompson plays the ball into Wayne inside the box, is played back to Thompson no shot on she puts it out wide to Baker coming in from the left, she shoots, Hamilton-Rout makes a good save at the near post.
Hamilton-Rout has to save off Baker again as the attacker makes another determined run on the left, head up she drives into the box, is pushed wide by Wymondham's Mary Cann but still gets a shot away, Hamilton-Rout pushes it away for a corner. Under pressure from the corner Hamilton-Rout nevertheless rises well to punch the ball away from her goal.
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| Cambridge's Laura Baker |
Wymondham make their 1st change with Natalie Woods coming off and Louise Hamilton-Rout coming on.
Cambridge win another corner, Russell putting in another good delivery towards the far post, Hamilton-Rout nicks in to take it of Liv Abbotts head as she comes in at the far post. Another corner is won, the ball coming in from the opposite side Goodchild is pushed as she goes to head the ball, however the ball is put back into the area Abbott with the header back across the six yard line, Baker gets to it her shot is blocked on the line.
Wymondham make a 2nd change with Georgina Knights coming on in place of Sally Hammerton.
Hewitt has a strike from distance, takes a nick off a defender on the way through, Hamilton-Rout is down well to make the save.
Wymondham win a free kick wide right, played into the area Louise Hamilton-Rout flicks it on, comes back to Laura Parry, she blasts her shot over the crossbar.
Cambridge have a free kick in the centre is taken quickly between Bright and Baker, the latter driving forwards is taken out, another free kick 22 yards central to Wymondham's goal, the shot comes in low, takes a deflection, Hamilton-Rout reacts well to get down to push the ball wide for a corner.
3rd and final change for Wymondham with captain Laura Parry coming off and Gabby Stone coming onto the pitch.
Russell puts in a good tackle to win the ball back high up the pitch on the right, works her way into the box has a strike on goal, it's Wymondham's Emma Chambers who makes the block. Baker is taken down again 30 yards out wide to the left of the goal, she takes the set piece squares it to Hewitt, her shot is straight down the keepers throat.
Wayne puts the ball into the run of Baker left of the box arriving at the corner of the box she shoots leaving Hamilton-Rout stranded, as the ball is sent past her she turns to see it roll wide of the far post.
90 minutes are up and it is 1-1 the tie goes into extra time, all subs have been made.
Cambridge kick off the 1st period of extra time, look to get it forwards quickly get it out to Wayne wide left she comes into the box, looks to wrap her foot around the ball, the shot is straight at Hamilton-Rout she takes the ball cleanly.
Crook with a great kick out, the ball is played on to Wayne who puts a shot in from the right forcing Hamilton-Rout to push it wide for a corner, the set piece comes in Wayne shoots inside the six yard box the shot is blocked on the line.
Both sides are looking to score a goal in extra time neither looking for penalties as Holloway is played in over the top in a central striking position now tries to get to the ball, Crook comes out well to take the ball before she can steal in.
GOAL! With good possession on the right side of the pitch Davies puts the ball into the area, it's Thompson who gets onto the end of it outside the six yard line to the right of goal looks to shoot across goal and puts it into the back of the net to make it 1-2.
Thompson very nearly has a 2nd goal moments later as Baker puts her in inside the box she closes Hamilton-Rout down looks to put the ball over her but the keeper stays big puts her gloves up and saves brilliantly.
1st half extra time- Wymondham Town LFC 1-2 Cambridge WFC
The home side have 15 minutes to get back on level terms as tehy kick off the 2nd period of extra time. It's Cambridge on the attack, the home side are starting to tire, Baker has had a really good game played well especially since moving out to the left, has a shot from inside the box produces another great save from Hamilton-Rout.
From a corner Wayne is unmarked at the far post but pulls her header wide of the post.
GOAL! Cambridge extend their lead, it's Thompson with her 2nd of the match, Baker plays the ball to her in a central position 25 yards out she isn't closed down gets her foot through the ball sending it arrowing past Hamilton-Rout and into the back of the net 1-3.
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| Cambridge's Sophie Thompson |
All Cambridge now Wymondham look shot have put in a great effort, Holloway gets onto a loose ball in the centre has space for a shot, puts it in towards goal too close to Crook she claims the ball.
GOAL! Laura Bright adds a 4th goal to the score late in the match with a strong run towards goal, evading a couple of tired challenges she closes in on goal fires the ball home from close range, the last action of the game as the tie ends with Cambridge WFC winning 4-1 after extra time.
Congratulations to Cambridge who progress to the 1st round of the FA Women's Cup were made to work for it though, grew into the game and looked the stronger side once they got the equaliser. Was a dogged and determined performance from Wymondham played some good attacking football throughout the match, will take alot of pride from having taken an FAWPL side all the way to extra time. The magic of the cup.
I would like to thank both clubs managers, Chris Wiseman and Steve Edwards for helping me out with the squad details.
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