18th December 2017
Facing wet and wintry conditions at York Road, the Ladies took the game to Maidenhead United playing up the slope in the first half, in a 4-1-4-1 set up.
Despite initially going behind after a slow start they clawed their way back into the game equalising through Ella Hitchcox after a superb move involving slick passing between four players. Holly Kay went close after some good skills to create a shooting chance and a fine save by the opposition keeper from a Suze Berry strike kept the scores level at half time.
After the break the Ladies started where they left off and again it was only fine keeping and the woodwork that kept the scores level. Suze Berry (pictured) and Holly Kay were continuing to cause the home defence problems.
However, with the clock running down, and after the Ladies failed to capitalise on a one on one, Maidenhead countered quickly and struck a good goal at the back post.
It was deja vu only minutes later after Cheltenham struck the woodwork and the Magpies extended their lead. But the Ladies kept going, driven on by Annabel Davies, Alana Taylor and Kayleigh Hateley. The latter scoring a Beckham-esque free kick to ensure a frantic final few moments.
Full time: 3-2
Andy Liddle, interim manager said: ‘This wasn’t the way we wanted to finish the year. We were dominant for large parts of this game and failed to take advantage of our supremacy. On another day Suze Berry would have had a deserved brace, but their keeper pulled off a couple of worldies. I can’t fault any of our players. We played some good football and kept battling to the end. Our first goal was particularly pleasing, straight off a training ground drill from Tuesday. It was a very quiet coach journey back, we know we should have had a point in the bag, if not all three.’
‘Our players deserve a well earned Christmas break and we look forward to our next game in the New Year.’
Panniers, Purvis (Bingham), Herbert, Brown-Wealls, Walters, Taylor, Davies, Hateley, Berry, Kay.
