20th April 2018
Cheltenham Town Ladies arrived in their third successive Gloucestershire County Cup Final on Tuesday night at the GFA Headquarters having played just one competitive match in the previous five weeks.
Cheltenham started the game on the front foot with Ella Hitchcox immediately in the thick of the side’s good work. A smart one touch move allowed Louise Fensome to slide through the speedy winger however the attack came to nothing after a recovering defender cut out the cross.
This set the tone for Cheltenham however and they continued to force the issue as a similar link up play resulted in Louise Fensome firing in to the side netting for chance number two. St Nicks had started slow and Cheltenham were looking to capitalise with Hately and Brown-Wealls starting to get a foothold in the match and win the midfield battle.
The chance of the half was to come mid way through as a long ball by Kayleigh Hateley found the run of Ellie Briscoe, only for the striker to hit the ball directly at the keeper when it seemed easier to score. Half time 0-0.
The second half saw a huge shift in the game as St Nicks began to grow into it. The dangerous forward play of Rhian Robbins was causing problems on the counter but Cheltenham’s defence stood firm, marshalled by Naomi Purvis and Samantha Morris.
At the other end, Cheltenham’s attacking threat seemed to die down as Briscoe, Butterfield and Hitchcox failed to make any impact. The introduction of Annabelle Davies and Charlie Rowlands tried to swing the game for Cheltenham however it was the side from Bristol that broke the deadlock with the game’s only goal.
Another direct ball was to catch out the Cheltenham defence and the speedy winger was to run on and slot past the hapless Rebecca Panniers in the Cheltenham goal to win the cup.
FT: Cheltenham 0 v 1 St Nicks
Manager Alex Cheal said: “Our lack of competitive action took its toll. Had we notched early doors when we threatened then we would have gone on to win, I am sure. We will learn from the experience and regroup.”
Team: Panniers, Wiltshire, Purvis, Morris, Berry (Walters), Brown Wealls (captain), Fensome, Hateley, Hitchcox (Rowlands), Butterfield (Davies), Briscoe. Subs unused: Bull and Kay.
