23rd January 2023
By Kieran Neller.
The Robinesses knocked out of the FA Women’s National League Plate Quarter Final despite an Issy Newns brace as Wasps win penalty shootout.
Cheltenham had the ball in the net within two minutes as Kelcie Fallon converted at the far post, but the scorer was deemed offside.
Despite heavy pressure from the visitors, Wasps drew first blood as Selin Buyukgiray swivels in the box against the run of play to put the home side ahead at the 15 minute mark.
Kylie Nolan had a chance to bring the Robinesses level moments later, as she fired a low volley at the post, but couldn’t beat Chrissie Wiggins in the net.
Aimee Watson was forced into a great diving save to stop the home side doubling their advantage.
Cheltenham came close to equalising again with Courtney Jones, when a free-kick falls to the defender in the box, but the shot sailed over.
Issy Newns (pictured) got the goal the Robinesses deserved through an incredible strike at the edge of the box, unleashing a bullet into the top right corner.
At the end of the half, forward Emma Congrave was brought down in the box after extremely heavy contact, but the referee waved off strong claims from the Cheltenham bench.
It only took three minutes of the restart for Newns to grab her second. Henna Butcher’s drag back was met by the goalscorer at the far post who comfortably struck the ball away to put her side ahead.
Crawley came back into the game with a penalty at the hour mark, drawing the score back to 2-2.
In the final ten minutes of normal time, Jones rattled the woodwork with her attempt from a set-piece, but neither side could finish the game off in 90 minutes.
Newns had a chance for a hat-trick as she was one-on-one with the keeper in the first half of extra time, but the keeper came out early and blocked the shot.
Watson was forced into action again in the second half of extra time with a great save to prevent a late winner for the Wasps.
The game went to penalties, where Watson pulled off a finger-tip save to give the advantage to the Robinesses on the first penalty.
However, two consecutive stops from Crawley’s Wiggins meant heartbreak for Cheltenham as they lost 5-4 in the shootout.
Cheltenham will be back to the South East next Sunday as they face Billericay Town in the FAWNL Southern Division.
Cheltenham Town Ladies XI:Watson, Jones, Fallon, Congrave&(Haynes 72), Wathan, Butcher, Cook(L. Davies 72), Owen, Collis (Taylor 88), Newns, Nolan.
Unused subs: Hannam, Finch
Cheltenham Player of the Match: Izzy Cook.
