Cheltenham Town bow out of Women’s FA Cup with defeat against Wolves

Wolverhampton Wanderers Women are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the second consecutive year in a row after beating Cheltenham Town Women 2-0 at Kayte Lane, writes Abi Harding.

Cheltenham still made history despite the defeat, with a record crowd of 576 in attendance at Kayte Lane, which is the highest ever for a women’s match in their history.

Goals from Amber Hughes and Beth Merrick were enough to beat their opposition and comfortably put their name into the hat for the fifth-round draw.

The first half consisted of little chances and was end-to-end in the opening exchanges.

Cheltenham’s first chance came from a Wolves error, but keeper Bec Thomas managed to deal with the short back pass and clear the ball just before Una Lue could take it off her.

Immediately up the other end, Wolves winger Destiney Toussaint came close to opening the scoring, but wasn’t able to divert her poked effort on target.

A few minutes later, Holly Finch pulled off an excellent block to prevent Hughes’ shot from potentially ending up in the back of the net.

It was Cheltenham who forced the first save out of their opponents, Thomas managed to hold onto Doris Greenwood’s effort from a tight angle.

On the half an hour mark, Wanderers again almost gifted Cheltenham the ball in their box, Thomas passing it straight to Greenwood, however, her touch landed straight back into the gloves of a grateful Thomas.

Minutes later, Henna Butcher was played in on goal, but her lobbed effort flew over the crossbar.

It ended goalless and even at half-time.

The visitors dominated the opening exchanges of the second half, and their pressure finally paid off on the hour mark.

Hughes took aim from range, her effort lobbing Robins’ keeper Mia Smith and nestling just under the crossbar.

The hosts almost immediately got back into the game, Lue almost beating Thomas to the ball in the box.

Wolves doubled their advantage with 20 minutes left on the clock, Merrick’s inch-prefect effort on the left-hand side from outside the box beating Smith at her near post.

Merrick almost added a third two minutes later, trying to again lob keeper Smith, who was miles off her line, however, her effort sailed over the crossbar.

The game’s last chance fell to Charlotte Greengrass, Toussaint’s cross met her outstretched, but the ball span just wide of the target.

It was the away side who will now progress into the fifth-round draw, which is set to take place at 18.30 on Monday January 13.

Cheltenham make the trip to Bristol Rovers next Sunday to face them in the Gloucestershire County Cup, whilst Wolves return to league action away at Stourbridge.

Cheltenham Town Women: M. Smith, Trinci, Finch, Collis, Attenborough, Bell, Butcher, Llewellyn, Owen, Greenwood, Lue

Subs: Pugh-Jones, Wellesley-Davies, Pemberton, Morgan-Hemmens

Wolverhampton Wanderers Women: Thomas, Morphet, George, Hughes, Greengrass, Johnson, Anderson, Toussaint, Roberts, Smith, Merrick

Subs: J. Cross, Clarke, E. Cross, Quigely, Denham, Hiscox, Loydon, Holmes, Mcphail

C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Maisy Collis (Cheltenham Town Women)

Cover photo taken with copyright by Marc Payne Photography/CTFC Women