28th March 2018
Team Mendip 5:1 Cheltenham Development
Cheltenham Reserves travelled to sunny Weston Super Mare on Sunday, for only their 3rd game of the year given the recent poor weather. They were met by a heavy pitch that closely resembled the seaside resorts beach – covered in sand
Travelling with a bare 11 after late withdrawals for family reasons, the Robins gave debuts to Diana Toth, a recent signing from Gloucester and Jess Wadey from Aberystwyth
The Robins set up 4,1,4,1 with Captain Lydia Amarquaye given the job of man marking Ellie Roberts who had scored 13 for Mendip in her last 5 outings
Mendip started brightly, and opened the scoring after just 4 minutes through good work from Ellie Orritt on their left. Sherise Binns also went close before Cheltenham settled
Cheltenham were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box in the 23rd minute, and Kayleigh Hateley managed to get the dead ball up and over Mendip’s wall and back down to the keeper’s left, who was rooted to the spot for 1:1
Cheltenham conceded a second from a corner just 2 minutes later as Steph Goddard capitalised on a melay of legs around the penalty area
In the last minute of the first half Roberts coolly lobbed Caty Stirling-Lee in the Robins goal from distance to send Mendip in 3:1 up at half time
Cheltenham settled early in the second period and for half an hour they pushed hard for a second goal which would have made things interesting at 3:2. Jen Brown-Wealls sent Toth through twice only to see Mendip’s keeper Amanda Hubbard react quickly on both occasions and with Lauren Cable and Hateley going close, it seemed only a matter of time before the goal came
As the Robins pushed, they left gaps at the back and it was Mendip who broke, cruelly taking a 4:1 lead through Tash Crew in the 80th minute. Substitute Erin Popham grabbed Mendip’s 5th, a scoreline that was harsh on Cheltenham. It did, however, sum up long periods of good possession and missed chances that have been a feature this season
Caty Stirling Lee
Rhianna Jamieson
Lorraine Markovic
Summer Rankin
Lydia Amarquaye
Becca Harris
Emma Canham
Diana Toth
Jess Wadey
Lauren Cable
Alana Taylor
Jen Brown-Wealls
Kayleigh Hateley
