30th January 2019
Cheltenham Ladies 2-0 Larkhall Athletic Ladies
By Bobby Vincent, University of Gloucestershire
Two quick goals from Annie Martin and Annabel Davies in the second-half capped off a dominant Cheltenham performance at the DN Fire Stadium.
Davies was originally meant to start on the bench for the Robins, but an injury to Ella Hitchcox in the warm-up meant the winger replaced her team-mate.
A win for Cheltenham has moved them within two points of second-placed Keynsham Town, whose game away at Southampton Saints was postponed.
There was a good spirit at the DN Fire Stadium on Sunday, with visitors being allowed free entry if they brought food, with all the food going to Cheltenham Foodbank.
The good spirit in the crowd, which was a Cheltenham record this season (91), and this made its way to the pitch.
Cheltenham dominated the first-half, with Larkhall struggling to get out of their own half.
Georgia Brown had the first chance of the game for the Robins, heading over a Martin corner early on.
Sally Butterfield (pictured) then came close for the hosts, but the winger couldn’t find the target and dragged her low shot wide of the ‘keeper’s post.
The best chance of the first-half then fell to Martin, who was played clean-through on goal by Rose Knuckley, but the pacey striker couldn’t control the ball despite having so much space.
Larkhall’s only real chance of the first-half came right at the end and Bec Penniers was called into action and made a fine save to keep the scores level.
For all of the possession and chances that the Robins had created, the score remained goalless and Larkhall were frustrating them.
But something Alex Cheal told them at half-time clearly worked. The hosts came out for the second-half, and despite the weather being freezing – they managed to produce some hot-form in front of goal.
Martin had her customary goal after Brown’s shot cannoned off the crossbar and rebounded to the striker, who poked into the empty net. Poacher’s finish.
Almost immediately after, Town’s forward then turned provider for Davies, who picked up a clever position at the far post and tapped in.
Two instant goals from the hosts had stunned Larkhall, who faced an uphill challenge.
For Cheltenham, it was a case of controlling and managing the rest of the game – and that they did so well.
Martin came close with an effort from outside the box, but apart from that, the game fizzled out.
Larkhall were restricted all game to little nothing going forward – a testament to how well the home side defended.
Cheltenham defender Sam Morris insisted after the match that her side never lost belief, despite seeing so many of their chances pass them by in the first-half.
“No (we never lost belief),” Morris said. “We knew we were playing well, especially after last week (3-2 loss to Buckland Athletic).
“I think we deserved the win, and, perhaps we should have been two or maybe three nil up in the first-half.”
Town’s Amy Leask echoed her team-mates comments and believes “patience” was what eventually won the match for the Robins.
“We just had to be patient. I think the patience paid off in the end,” Leask said. “We were clinical in the second-half.
“We should have been more clinical in the first-half, but in the end, it doesn’t matter. It was a great performance from all of the girls.”
Team: Panniers, Leask, Walters (C), Davies (Durham), Dolloway, (Morris) Wilkins, Fensome, (Newns) Brown, Butterfield, Knuckey, Martin.
Subs; Hitchcox, Christopher.
