12th November 2018
Cheltenham Town Ladies travelled to Newton Abbot on Sunday to face Buckland Athletic in the SSE Women’s FA Cup First Round.
An early morning pitch inspection saw the game go ahead after heavy overnight rain and the sticky conditions suited the home team’s more direct approach as they progressed with a goal in each half.
Cheltenham started brightly and took the game to the opposition without really testing the home goalkeeper. The Robins fell behind to a well worked free kick to the far post which was knocked in by an unmarked Buckland striker.
The Ladies tried to play the ball away from the muddy central areas but Ella Hitchox and Ellie Briscoe on the wings were well marshalled. Briscoe then produced the strike of the half with a superb 20-yarder that was tipped over the bar.
HT: 1-0
Manager Alex Cheal made changes at half time bringing Sally Butterfield on for an injured Briscoe, Dance on for Robbins and pushing Izzy Newns further forward. This enabled the Ladies to pen Buckland into their final third and take control of the game.
The Ladies almost levelled with an almighty goalmouth scramble where the ball was cleared off the line at least three times. But then against the run of play Buckland scored the decisive second after a deadball was cleared to a home midfielder who struck a fine strike past the excellent Bec Panniers.
Cheal made one last change bringing Kayleigh Hateley on in search of a goal but the solid Buckland defence held firm.
Full time: 2-0.
“Our preparations were affected by a late arrival at the ground due to heavy traffic,” Cheal said.
“We dominated the game in spells but didn’t make those moments count. Both their goals came against the run of play and the squad is massively disappointed not to be progressing.”
Team: Panniers, Dolloway, Purvis, Walters (c), Morris, Wilkins, Brown, Newns, Briscoe, Robbins, Hateley, Butterfield, Hitchcox, Dance.
