6th September 2021
Report by Jamie Cameron
A flurry of goals either side of half-time earned Cheltenham Town Ladies a third win in four games, with a 3-0 success against Larkhall Athletic Women.
After a relatively even opening half that was interrupted by injuries, deep into added time, Lois Colley (pictured) gave the Robins the lead over her former club with a fantastic strike from range.
Amy Wathan and Lacy-Jai Liggett added gloss to the scoreline in a dominant second-half performance.
The result sees Cheltenham move up to 2nd in the National League Division One South West table, behind leaders Chesham United on goal difference.
Tom Davies made a solitary change to the team that impressively beat Exeter, as Tamzin Hayward replaced Holly Rogers.
It was a slightly larger squad to choose from, with four substitutes able to be named in what was the Robins’ third home game of the season.
Larkhall created the first big chance of the game on 17 minutes, as Aimee Watson did well to save a shot across goal from 12 yards.
Billie Haynes was creating problems for the Larkhall defence, cutting in from the right and shooting on a couple of occasions.
Hayward then went down injured, and was replaced by Becky Donnelly after a three-minute stoppage.
Cheltenham had an appeal for a penalty waved away eight minutes from the 45-minute mark, as Wathan was cleared out by the Larkhall ‘keeper when going to finish a cross, but the referee gave nothing.
Haynes threatened again with a looping cross that almost deceived the ‘keeper, before a Larkhall player had to be stretchered off with a serious injury.
That led to 14 minutes of added time, which the Robins capitalised on by scoring right at the end of it.
Full back Colley scored her first league goal for the club in style with a superb effort into the top-left corner from more than 25 yards, and that was the final action of the first half.
Cheltenham doubled their lead just after the restart as Colley put in a great cross, which Wathan headed in from eight yards out.
It was Wathan’s third goal of the campaign, and Liggett joined her as the Robins’ joint-top scorer just four minutes later.
A great ball from Sammy Hallsworth sent Liggett in behind the Larkhall defence, and she poked past the ‘keeper despite being clattered in the process.
The striker had to be substituted, but Cheltenham kept pushing for more goals.
Substitute Donnelly was a menace for the visitors’ backline, and had several efforts either blocked or saved, while Charlotte Criddle also came close.
The Robins put a clear-cut chance over the bar from close range in the dying moments, but that didn’t take away from another great performance that extended the unbeaten run to four.
Davies’ side are in action in the National League Cup next week against Southampton FC, before returning to league duty on Sunday, 26 September away to Maidenhead United.
Cheltenham: Watson, Hallsworth, Barbour-Gresham, Butler, Colley (Welacki 73), Criddle, Liggett (Jones 57), Bevan, Haynes, Hayward (Donnelly 37), Wathan.
Robins’ Player of the Match: Billie Haynes.
For the digital match programme for this game, click here.
