18th February 2019
Cheltenham Town Ladies cruised into the GFA Women’s Trophy semi final with an emphatic 9-0 win away at AEK Boco on Sunday.
Manager Alex Cheal used the match as an opportunity to rest some players but the changes didn’t impact the Robins’ close passing style with Kayleigh Hateley and Louise Fensome controlling the midfield from the off.
Rose Knuckey opened the scoring on the 3rd minute and with Sally Butterfield and Ella Hitchcox marauding down the wings the desire to build an early lead was plain to see.
Becky Wilkins scored her first goal for the Ladies to double the advantage on 11 before Fensome and Hitchcox added two more.
Half Time 4-0.
With the ability to use rolling substitutes in cup matches Cheal brought on Georgia Brown, Jade Wiltshire and debutant Abby Bevan, recently signed from WBA, for the second half and again a crisp passing rhythm was established. Butterfield, Wiltshire and Issy Newns all added further goals with Fensome capping a strong performance with a hat trick.
Full Time 9-0.
“This was a good solid performance today and it was great to keep a clean sheet. We look forward to the semi-finals which sadly will not feature our second string who lost by the solitary goal.”
The best moment of the day came after the final whistle when young super fan Courteney presented the team with a hand drawn post of the Ladies.
Team: Panniers, Purvis, Morris, Leask, Hateley, Fensome, Wilkins, Hitchcox, Butterfield, Knuckey, Newns, Wiltshire, Bevan Brown.
