2nd September 2024
Report by Ben Stevens
Cheltenham Town Women suffered their first league defeat of the season at home to AFC Wimbledon Women.
The opening 25 minutes of the half were very even, but two good free kicks from the visitors gave them a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Despite creating chances in the second half, the ‘Dons’ scored another with 10 minutes left, a towering header from Solomon-Taylor gave Wimbledon a 3-0 victory.
First Half:
Tom Davies reverted to the side that had faced MK Dons away the week before ahead of the game. Cheltenham almost took an early lead, after an early free kick was almost cleared into the goal by a Wimbledon defender, however, the referee brought it back for a foul.
Chances kept coming for both teams, with Maisy Collis and Henna Butcher both getting through on goal, but neither could beat Rose Kite in the Wimbledon goal. The visitors had an early free kick after Cheltenham’s captain Emily Owen brought down an attacker with a last-ditch tackle. The free kick narrowly went over the bar.
10 minutes later, the visitors took the lead through Ashlee Hincks, who went for goal with another free-kick effort. Despite Mia Smith getting a hand to the ball, the effort was too strong for her and Wimbledon took the lead after 27 minutes.
Hincks doubled the visitor’s advantage with another direct free-kick, this time from closer range and her effort went over Smith. Cheltenham did create chances before the halftime break, but they were comfortable for Kite.
Second Half:
Abbey Hateley had an effort into the second period, but Kite claimed it comfortably. Cheltenham made changes, and this brought freshness into the side. More chances were created by the Robinesses, including Owen having a free kick in a great position. The foul was won inside the Wimbledon half but Owen’s effort was palmed down by Kite, who scrambled to cover the ball.
Wimbledon’s third goal came in the 80th minute. A free kick was taken inside Don’s half, and Solomon-Taylor jumped highest to head the ball past Smith.
An attacking change saw Connie Pengelly come on for Hateley, and Pengelly’s cross found Butcher, but she was just offside. The game finished 3-0, with Cheltenham now having a week to recover ahead of Billericay Town next weekend.
Cheltenham: Smith; Sharpe, Owen, Llewellyn (Wellesley-Davies 70); Trinci (Pemberton 62), Hateley (Pengelly 85), Collis, Attenborough (Greenwood 55), Liggett (Bell 62); Lue, Butcher
Cheltenham Player of the Match:
Chosen By Opposition: Una Lue
Chosen By Sponsor: Meg Attenborough
Photo courtesy of Marc Payne Photography.
