13th March 2017
Cheltenham Town Ladies 1st team made it successive Gloucestershire County FA Women’s Finals with a 2-0 victory at Downend Flyers yesterday.
Playing on a difficult pitch, Cheltenham Ladies, settled into their game very well, passing the ball around and looking to take the game to their opponents. It was no surprise when they took the lead after 20 minutes A quick pass into the box saw Holly Rogers free and the 16 year old striker crossed for Ella Hitchcox to put Cheltenham ahead.
Cheltenham doubled their lead 10 minutes later when again a crisp passing move into the area found Hitchcox to score with a delightful finish and record her 10th goal of the season.
Half Time: Downend Flyers 0 Cheltenham Town Ladies 2
The 2nd half started in the same, with Cheltenham Town on top, and they continued to make chances, and with more clinical finishing the game could have been well and truly over. However, Downend changed their system and started to create chances of their own, and Cheltenham keeper, Bec Panniers, had to be at her best, and produced two fantastic saves to thwart the home side, and the game was suddenly very lively. Solid defending by Cheltenham Town, ensured that they would keep a clean sheet, and in the end deserved the victory, to take their place in the Final. Details of which will be posted at a later date.
Manager, Graham Fletcher, commented after the game:
“I wanted the players to approach the game with the correct attitude, and for us to play our game. The pitch was difficult, but we passed the ball really well, and once the game settled down, we started to win our individual battles, and create chances. Holly Rogers did really well for the first goal, showing great composure to cross the ball for Ella to score, and the second goal was created from a really good set of passes, for Ella to score decisively with a great finish.
“At half time, I said I expected Downend to come at us again, but we looked comfortable for 15 minutes of the 2nd half. Then the game became lively after they hit the bar, and despite a couple of other moments, and some excellent goalkeeping by Bec Panniers, who was brilliant again, we saw out the rest of the game, to reach the Final.
“I’m really pleased for the whole squad, the progression this season has been excellent, I’m also pleased the way we have been playing since the West Ham game in October, which was the turning point of the season. We look comfortable on the ball, we have great pace in the team, and we create and score lots of chances. The quality of the squad is first class, we now have to pick up some more points in the League and finish as high as we can in the table, and look forward to the Cup Final in early April.
“We travel to Shanklin on the Isle of Wight, we are going for the weekend to making the travelling easier, kick off is at 1:00pm, and we will be looking for another positive result.”
Cheltenham Town 1st team:
Bec Panniers
Jade Wiltshire
Jen Brown Wealls
Amy Leask
Naomi Purvis
Louise Fensome
Ria Salleh
Suze Berry
Sophie Wyatt
Ella Hitchcox
Holly Rogers
Emma Munday
Keziah Ley
