27th July 2016
Cheltenham advanced into the semis of the league cup and scored 5 for the second week running, but they were made to work hard by Longlevens after an early scare.
Centre back and skipper Tzara Marriott was ruled out with a shoulder injury sustained at Dursley, and with Lindsay Garner away there was a new look to the back 4 including Abbi Pearce and Hannah Bingham.
Cheltenham fell behind to surely the quickest goal the league will see this season. Longlevens kicked off and Lydia Armarquaye drifted a pass out right splitting the Cheltenham defence and a first time strike hung in the wind, over the keepers head and although everyone thought it had nestled on the roof of the net, Longlevens were ahead with only the third kick of the game. Things got worse for Cheltenham as Longlevens doubled their lead just 10 minutes later. With 15 minutes gone the Robins started to settle and move the ball around well, Leanne Godwin and Sophie Wyatt both looked threatening before Sarah Haden made it 2:1 with a superbly struck shot some 25 yards out on the right.
At 2:1 down at the interval, Cheltenham weren’t panicking and for the first 20 minutes of the second half had some good possession, finally resulting in an equaliser from Chloe Lawrence.
2:2 and into extra time where the pacey Molly Kilpatrick bagged a brace and Lawrence added her second as Longlevens were made to pay for piling forward leaving Cheltenham with plenty of space.
Petersfield Park had witnessed an entertaining game played in great spirit.
Man of the match went to Cheltenham full back Amber Coxhill.
