9th December 2024
Report by Owen Mason.
Photo courtesy of Marc Payne Photography.
Cheltenham Town Women are through to the Fourth Round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup for the first time ever after a 2-1 win over Tier Four Norwich City at Kayte Lane.
Una Lue (pictured) opened the scoring for Tom Davies’ side early in the second half, but the Canaries replied back, with a penalty from Hope Strauss.
The game was forced to go to extra time, which led to Lue getting her second of the game after being found by Henna Butcher.
Norwich threatened to get back into it, and almost forced a penalty shootout, but Cheltenham held firm to reach the Fourth Round for the first time in their history.
Despite being a division below, it was Andy Cook’s Canaries who had the better chance of the first half, as Natasha Snelling rattled the crossbar after taking on a rebound from a free kick. Mia Smith was beaten in the Robinesses net however the ball miraculously bounced off the goal line.
Defender Lilly Wellesley-Davies was cautioned for the hosts early on, and the resulting free kick was headed away from danger from Libby Bell.
Una Lue made her usual dangerous runs into the box, but on this occasion she was offside. Lue and Henna Butcher almost wrong-footed Norwich keeper Sarah Quantrill, but she was able to clear away from danger.
Cheltenham then grew into the game then, as Butcher tested the gloves of Quantrill, who put it out for a corner. Bell almost opened the scoring before the break but her effort blazed over the bar.
Snelling was dangerous again as the sides came out after the interval, as she hit a shot just wide of Smith’s post.
The deadlock was broken 53 minutes in, as Butcher made a fantastic pass to find Lue, who made no mistake in striking it past the Canaries keeper.
Cook’s side didn’t give the Kayte Lane crowd too much time to celebrate as they earned a penalty, as Lauren Tomlinson was brought down in the area. Hope Strauss slotted it past Smith, and levelled it for the WNL Division One South East side.
Cheltenham heads did not drop though, as Bell found Lue minutes later with a pinpoint cross, who headed agonisingly wide.
The game became extremely end to end, and substitute Doris Greenwood was denied a certain goal, thanks to some last ditch defending from Ellie Bishop.
The game went to Extra Time, and it didn’t take long for Cheltenham’s top scorer this season to change the game again. Just like the first goal, Butcher found Lue, who hit it straight past Quantrill, to claim her 10th goal of the season.
It was a fairly quiet Extra Time period as Cheltenham looked to hold on to their lead. Robinesses Captain Emily Owen got booked for time wasting, and moments later Norwich hit the bar.
In the last minute of Extra Time, it was carnage in the Norwich box as they scrambled for an equaliser. Some incredible last ditch defending from Bell and birthday girl Ffion Llewellyn denied any hope of the Canaries forcing a shootout.
The whistle blew for full time, and it was pandemonium for the Cheltenham fans as they achieved club history by reaching the Fourth Round of the Women’s FA Cup.
Manager Davies was understandably delighted in reaching uncharted territory for the club, stating, “I’m really proud of everyone involved, I said to them in the dressing room, that six weeks ago, this run we’ve been on, is a bit of a dream.
“To go on and make history is a phenomenal achievement, and they deserve all the credit for that.”
Cheltenham made it four wins in a row in all competitions, and six wins in their last eight, and Davies was happy to see Cheltenham get into the hat, albeit quite a surreal feeling.
“It’s a pinch me moment, to see where we are now is phenomenal. Knowing we’re in there by right, we’ll be drawn either home or away to someone. Players want someone in the top four, staff want someone in Tier Four/Five, if there’s anyone left!”
“We want a draw we know we can compete in, and that presents a fantastic opportunity, so I’m just really proud to be part of this club.” Davies concluded.
Davies and the squad will find out who they get in the Fourth Round, at 7pm on Monday December 9, on the Adobe Women’s FA Cup YouTube channel.
Cheltenham: Smith; Llewellyn, Owen, Wellesley-Davies; Bell, Collis (Greenwood 71), Attenborough, Butcher, Hateley (Trinci 71); Pemberton, Lue
Cheltenham Player of the Match:
Chosen by Opposition: Henna Butcher.
Chosen by Sponsor: Henna Butcher.
Attendance: 168
