15th March 2024
Cheltenham Town Ladies suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat away to Oxford United at Court Place Farm last night.
Tom Davies’ side went ahead just after the second half commenced with Phoebie Poole (pictured) striking a great effort past Paris Sercombe.
The lead was short lived though as Zoe Barratt pulled it back just two minutes later before the hosts went ahead with Barratt calmly dispatching her spot kick.
Despite a hard-fought display, the Robinesses fell to a 2-1 defeat on the road and remain eighth in the FA Women’s National League.
It was a cagey opening phase as Charlotte Buxton provided a vital early interception before her side countered via Daisy Ackerman, but the left back’s cross was cut out.
The first real chance for the Robinesses came on the 10-minute mark as Poole cut inside, taking aim from the edge of the area but her effort was straight at Sercombe.
Chances continued to flow for both sides but a dangerous freekick from the hosts saw Aimee Watson called into action, making no mistake in preventing the danger.
Looking to break the deadlock, Emily Allen drove down the wing before weaving between the defence, but her curling strike was kept out by the Oxford number one.
The Oxford defence were once again troubled with the blistering pace of Henna Butcher as she steamed through but a tug on her shirt saw her win a free kick in a dangerous area.
Cheltenham’s number nine, Poole, took aim from the set piece but her effort blazed over the bar.
A nervy first half came to a close with neither side posing real threat in front of goal, heading in level at the break.
Davies’ side came out firing as top goal scorer Poole continued her great striking form, netting her third in two games since her return from injury after Charlie Taylor lofted in the ball, finding the feet of Poole.
However, the lead slipped just minutes later as Barratt bared down on goal, slotting her effort past Watson to bring her side back level.
One soon became two for the hosts as former Cheltenham Town player Izzy Cook was brought down inside the area, winning a penalty.
Barratt took the spot kick as she put her side ahead for the first time, scoring a brace in three minutes to turn the game on its head.
The Robinesses’ heads didn’t drop as they looked to draw level, but Ackerman’s effort nestled straight into the keeper’s arms.
With just five minutes to go, Poole looked to feed the ball through to substitute Tash Harding, but Sercombe rushed off her line to collect the effort.
Despite giving it their all, Cheltenham fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat on the road.
Cheltenham: Watson, Llewellyn, Owen, Buxton, Ackerman, Allen, Collis, Pemberton, Taylor (Harding 75), Butcher (Lue 75), Poole.
