24th November 2019
CTLFC 13
Bristol Ladies Dev 1
Goalscorers:
Cheltenham: Martin 8′, 21′ 42′ 57′, Barlett 12′, 17′, 34′, 37′, 38′, 60′, 85′, Criddle 45+’ 90′,
Bristol Ladies Dev: TBC 70′,
Cheltenham Town Ladies saw off a hard working Bristol Ladies Union Development at All Saints Academy, with Kerry Bartlett (pictured) and captain Annie Martin running the show.
Cheltenham struck early on through a good finish from Annie Martin. Becky Wilkins found space on the left to cut back and allow the striker to beat her marker to the pass and convert inside the box. Wilkins was originally credited with the goal due to an obstructed view, but a retraction at the break awarded her the assist.
The visitors were spurred on by the early setback, taking the attack to Cheltenham and winning a corner, but weren’t able to convert. As Cheltenham went forward, a foul in the box left the referee no choice but to award a penalty. Bartlett converting from the spot.
Cheltenham would return to attacking following the restart, with King getting a left-footed shot away, forcing a routine save from the goalkeeper. Martin would then get another glimpse at goal but couldn’t keep her shot down, before Bartlett would get on the end of a good Sarah King pull back to get her second.
Cheltenham would look to control and dictate the game, making the visitors chase. Scorer would turn provider as Bartlett would benefit from a Wilkins takle, finding Martin, who again slotted home with a fabulous strike.
The visitors would dig in and cause the Robinesses problems, with Butler and Dolloway called into action to stem the flow and restore order for the hosts. Cheltenham would make a change with Georgia Brown replacing Abby Bevan and working well to provide a chance for Bartlett but the striker was penalised or a collision with the keeper.
Bartlett would find her hat-trick shortly after, with a direct finish after some creative passing football from the home side.
Sammy Hallsworth would be ejected from the game for 10 minutes for dissent, but Cheltenham would continue to dictate.
Bartlett would add her fourth of the day after a fantastic ball into the danger zone from King.
Her fifth would come from opportunistic following-up on a shot. A shot from outside the box called the Bristol Ladies Union keeper into making a save, with Bartlett pouncing on the loose ball, side-stepping the goalkeeper and slotting into an empty net to make it seven.
Annie Martin would add to her own tally after some one-way traffic. She found space on the edge of the box and was allowed time to pick her spot with a fantastic finish.
Cheltenham would gamble before the break. Sammy Hallsworth returned from the sin-bin to provide a threatening cross into the box, which was brought down by Sarah King which allowed Charlotte Criddle the chance to turn and blast into the net at the near post.
Half Time: CTLFC 9-0 Bristol Ladies Union Development
Seven minutes into the second half would see Cheltenham hit the net again. Abby Bevan would cause disruption in the box, getting a flick of a shot in a congested area. With the keeper making a reflex stop, the loose ball would fall to Martin, who hammered past the outstretched arms of the shot stopper.
Kerry Bartlett would secure her double hat-trick on the 60th minute after Wilkins produced a good save from the goalkeeper. With the goalkeeper only able to palm the shot away, Bartlett scampered onto the loose ball and tapped home from an acute angle.
Wilkins and Brown would combine in the midfield with the BLU defence having to be on top form to stop the wave of Cheltenham attacks.
A Hallsworth cross from the left would see Bartlett control well under pressure but couldn’t beat the keeper, who despite conceding a few had kept the home side’s total down with some fancy saves.
The visitors never gave up the fight, and would go quickly after defending a Cheltenham corner, breaking at pace and forcing a corner kick for themselves. The Robins’ defence would clear the danger, but only to middle of their half where a first time shot curled through the bodies and found the net at the far post.
It would be fifteen minutes before another goal was scored, but it was Bartlett again. Some fancy passing from Brown and Wilkins saw the striker receive the ball with her back to goal. She had time to shoot on the turn and slot her finish beyond the keeper.
Charlotte Criddle would end the second half the same way she finished the first – by hitting the net. The midfielder dispatching a net-seeking missile of a shot from distance to send Cheltenham through with a scoreline that was, if anything, a little harsh on the visitors who never stopped working and battling for everything.
Cheltenham: B. Panniers, S. Hallsworth, C. Dolloway, M. Butler, L. Ellis, C. Criddle, A. Bevan, B. Wilkins, S. King, A. Martin, K. Bartlett.
Substitutes: S. Butterfield, G. Brown
Cheltenham Town Ladies continue their run of cup games, in the FA Women’s National League Plate Second Round. They host Chichester of the FA WNL Southern Premier on Sunday December 8th.
