7th November 2016
Cheltenham Town Dev 3-2 Oldland Abbotonians
Cheltenham started the game really well and were creating chances from the very beginning. The front four were seeing a lot of the ball and threading through some great passes. Unfortunately the goal didn’t come initially though with Holly Rogers, Catherine Reilly and Leanne Godwin all squandering chances. The deserved goal did come shortly after though as the ball fell to Leanne Godwin on the edge of the box and she rifled the ball in to the top corner excellently. The pressure continued and Holly Rogers got through the defence and was then fouled by the Oldlands keeper. Holly bravely stepped up to take the penalty but the Oldlands keeper was equal to the powerful strike and saved well to keep it 1-0.
Five minutes later the goalkeeper for Oldlands went down following a save from a Kayla Garland shot and was subsequently stretchered off with an injured knee. The stoppage in play seemed to help Oldlands and they finished the half the strongest and equalised just before the half time whistle. A long free kick was punted forward and Tzara Marriott unluckily diverted the ball past Ash Lebbon in goal to score a very unfortunate own goal. 1-1 at half time.
Cheltenham again started the second half the strongest and scored quite early on in to the second half. Abbie Barker played a great ball over the top to Lauren Cable who forced a very good save from the Oldland reserve goalkeeper. Luckily the ball fell straight to Catherine Reilly 10 yards out though and she finished well in to the empty net. The game became scrappy for a while with Cheltenham perhaps the more threatening on the counter attack. The game took another swing though with 15 minutes to go. The Oldlands winger found some space down the right wing and managed to squeeze in a cross/shot that found its way in to the net from a very acute angle.
This didn’t deter Cheltenham though and again they found great spirit to keep attacking. With 4 minutes left, Leanne Godwin’s corner was met at the near post by Tzara. Her header hit the post but luckily it rolled back across the line and Lauren Cable finished from close range. The drama didn’t end though as the Oldlands midfielder struck a shot in the last minute that was destined for the net. Some how Ash Lebbon in goal flung her leg at hit and managed to divert the ball on to the post and the defence cleared well.
Manager Adam Ryman (pictured) said: “Overall, it was a very deserved victory for Cheltenham and a lot of chances were created. The whole team played excellently with a special mention to Catherine Reilly who got player of the match and was superb throughout and really made us tick in the attacking third.”
