9th September 2024
Report by Ben Stevens
Cheltenham Town Women suffered a close defeat away to Billericay Town.
The Robinesses went behind early on, with Jessica Francis-Weir getting the home side’s noses in front before doubling their advantage before halftime.
The hosts then found themselves down to 10, after Lennie Priest was shown a second yellow card.
Cheltenham put more pressure on Billericay after the sending off, but could only get one goal back through Una Lue (pictured), who tapped home her fourth goal of the season. Despite having lots of chances to pull themselves level, Cheltenham couldn’t find a leveller and narrowly missed out on taking a point back to Gloucestershire.
First Half:
Cheltenham Town stuck with the same team that had started the previous three league games. Cheltenham went close three minutes into the game, with Lacy-Jai Liggett getting into a great position but her effort was saved by former Robinesses keeper Amiee Watson.
Two minutes later, the hosts found themselves in front. Pressure from the home side meant Jessica Francis-Weir had the ball on the edge of the box, and her shot at the near post past Mia Smith to give Billericay an early advantage.
Cheltenham kept the pressure on, and forced Watson into multiple saves. Una Lue and Meg Attenborough almost forced the Billericay back-line into a mistake, but the chance didn’t come. However, after 37 minutes, Billericay doubled their advantage against the run of play. Francis-Weir drove home her second of the afternoon.
Second Half:
Tom Davies made a change at the start of the second half, with Ella Pemberton coming on for Maisy Collis. Cheltenham kept the pressure on the home side, and had many good chances. With an hour of the game played, the Robinesses had a free kick on the edge of the Billericay box. The captain Emily Owen stepped up, but the free kick had to be retaken due to encroachment, which earned the defender a yellow card. However, Owen’s effort went just wide of the post.
Ffion Llewellyn put in a brilliant last-ditch tackle to keep the score at 2-0, after Breon Grant was played through. The hosts then found themselves down to 10 on 64 minutes, after Lennie Priest was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Henna Butcher. Cheltenham took advantage of this, and eventually got a goal back.
A free kick was played up the pitch by Llewellyn from Cheltenham’s half, and Doris Greenwood and Liggett worked well together to keep the ball, with Greenwood’s effort palmed across goal. Una Lue was quickest to react, andtapped the ball in to get a goal back for the Robinesses.
However, in the final 10 minutes, Cheltenham couldn’t find another clear-cut opportunity, and the game finished 2-1. Tom Davies’ side return to Kayte Lane next weekend to face Hashtag United at home.
Cheltenham: Smith; Sharpe (Wellesley-Davies 90+2), Llewellyn, Owen; Trinci (Bell 67), Hateley (Greenwood 57), Collis (Pemberton 45), Liggett, Attenborough (Pengelly (84); Lue, Butcher.
Photo courtesy of Marc Payne Photography.
