29th February 2020
After a torrid time against the Elements, and a battle to secure an alternative venue, Cheltenham welcome local rivals Swindon Town to All Saints Academy for a 2pm kick-off.
Cheltenham booked their place in the GFA County Cup semi-Final last Sunday, picking up a victory against a hard working Pucklechurch side, hitting the net no less than 16 times, in what was much needed game time. having only played two games since the start of the new year.
Talking to Richard Joyce for CTFC.com after the match, Cheal commented that despite the one-sided result, the game was “still a good run out and it’s needed before next week. It’ll be an exciting one. Local derbies are always the best ones and Swindon is no bigger really.
“For the likes of Georgia [Brown ]and Sarah [King] it’s their local team really – it’s a team that they grew up playing for. A lot of our players have a lot of history between the two clubs so it’ll be a good one. Hopefully we can get quite a few through the door.”
Team News
Cheal sticks with the bulk of the side that put 16 past Pucklechurch, with Robyn Levett retaining her place in goal.
Sammy Hallsworth, Kirsten Rendall, Lauren Ellis and Harriet Lambe are all included, as well as the returning Elle-Mae Simpson, who missed out on the County Cup game due to being cuptied.
Jasmine Bull, absent from the County Cup fixture returns to the side, as does new signing Kerry Walklett, who could make her debut for Cheltenham after missing out last weekend.
Hannah Galpin and Caitlin Marron maintain their position in the matchday squad after stepping upfrom the Reserves, despite being out of contention due to being cup tied for the County Cup.
Opposition
It’s been a season to forget for Swindon Town Women, as they find themselves heading towards the business end of the season second from bottom. Missing out on the opening day, due to Southampton Saints L&G FC folding in pre-season, Swindon would open their competitive campaign against MK Dons in the FA WNL Cup Determining Round, losing out 4-0, before coming up against Southampton Women in the FA WNL Division 1 South-West, receiving a 7-2 drubbing.
Two tough home fixtures against Larkhall ( a 4-2 loss) and Southampton FC (a 4-0 defeat) saw the team kept off bottom only by goal difference, a situation not aided by a narrow 2-1 loss to fellow strugglers Maidenhead.
Fortunes changed the following week as they welcomed Poole Town Ladies to Cinder Lane, coming out on top with a 2-1 victory. Their poor form has continued since, with Swindon Robins unable to pick up a win despite some spirited performances against Chichester in the FA WNL Plate and most recently, Southampton Women which saw the Soton side come from behind to secure a 3-1 win.
A few familiar faces could return make a return to town, with former Cheltenham Town Ladies Amy Leask, Anna Barnes, Kayleigh Hateley, Ria Salleh, Lauren Kayll and Suze Berry all having taken the trip down the A417 to sign for the visitors.
Previous Meetings
The Robins Derby goes back to 2014/15, as Cheltenham entered the FA Women’s National League. The first FA WNL Robins Derby, in September 2014, saw Swindon standing tall, with an impressive 4-1 victory.
The return fixture, at Fairford Town’s Cinder Lane, saw Swindon make it a double with a 2-1 win. Now-Cheltenham winger Sally Butterfield on the scoresheet for Swindon.
In 2015/16, the teams met within a handful of weeks near the tail end of the season. In April, a crowd of 62 saw Swindon march to an emphatic win, 4-1. Emily Skipp scoring Cheltenham’s only goal.
The winners were equally as ruthless in the away fixture, rolling over Cheltenham 4-0 at Petersfield Park as Swindon would go on to secure promotion to the Southern Division.
The teams wouldn’t meet again until last season, which saw Cheltenham travel to Cinder Lane on a Thursday night, and scoop up all three points with Ella Hitchcox and Annie Martin on hand to gift the visitors a 2-0 win.
The return leg, saw the teams feature in the Cheltenham Town double-header, playing on the hallowed turf of the Johnny-Rocks Stadium, after the men’s team had faced their Swindon counterparts.
A Cerys Dolloway bullet of a header, was cancelled out by Alice Telling, and a second provided by Milly Colford was eventually equaled by Georgia Brown from the spot as the two teams ground out a 2-2 stalemate.
Directions and Prices
Location: All Saints Academy, Blaisdon Way, GL51 0WH. (Find it on Google maps here)
By car:
Turn off Tewkesbury Road into Hayden Road (B4634). Take a left at Blaisdon Way traffic lights, carrying straight on at the first roundabout. At the second roundabout, take the first exit into All Saints Academy main entrance.
By bus:
The 41 and 42 buses from Cheltenham town centre stop opposite Sainsbury’s on Tewkesbury road. The Academy is a 10 minute walk from the bus stop, down Hayden Way and following the same route as cars, mentioned above.
The C bus stops on Welch Road, near the corner of Howell Road, where there is an entrance to the school. Should this entrance be closed, a short walk through Grenadier Gardens housing estate will bring you out on Pilgrove Way. The school is a short walk down the road.
Entrance to the All Saints Academy 3G is £2 per adult, with children, Cheltenham Town FC season ticket holders and Robins Trust members receiving free entry.
Due to the uncertainty of this match taking place, match programmes are unfortunately not available for this game, although a team sheet will be made available to supporters.
PLEASE NOTE THAT SUPPORTERS WILL NOT ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE 3G CAGE UNTIL FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE KICK-OFF.
Match Coverage
For real-time match coverage, follow our twitter page, @CTLadies. You can also check the club’s Facebook and Instagram for half time and full time scores.
