Injury time winner leaves Cheltenham Civil Service four points from securing double
Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies scored an injury time winner to edge past Newent Town Women, 2-1, to leave them needing four points from their remaining two league games to complete a league and cup double.
Katie Ashmead’s 91st minute effort earned Civvy the win, after Katie Williams’ spectacular equaliser cancelled out a Kaydee Wheeler header – all after a goalless first 45 minutes.
Civvy lifted the GFA Women’s Challenge Cup on Thursday night and came into a crucial trip to 3rd place Newent knowing that a win would be massive in their quest to bounce back into GCWFL Division One.
Newent came into the game knowing that they just have to keep winning if they were to gate crash the title picture alongside Civvy and City of Gloucester Women, but defeat hinders their chances, but they aren’t fully out of the race.
Both Newent and City of Gloucester are nine points behind with two games in hand over Civvy, but Civvy’s goal difference is 23 goals better off than Newent’s.
Civvy know that four points from trips to North Bristol Wanderers and Ellwood Ladies in the next two weekend’s will see them crowned Champions and secure their return to Division One after last season’s relegation.
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In a quiet first 45, it was the visitors who created the best of the chances. Alisha Parker had two early chances, firing straight at Aimee Hancock in the 5th minute, before hitting the bar with a looping effort in the 35th minute.
In between that, Harmony Wheeler dragged wide after getting into a good position, whilst Anna Whitbury was denied by Hancock with her legs just before the break.
Newent grew as the half went on, but failed to really test Civvy keeper Penny Fletcher.
And the visitors broke the deadlock in the early stages of the second half when a ball in from the left hand side was headed towards goal by Kaydee Wheeler and the header trickled into the bottom corner.
Substitute Meg Long nearly capitalised after a spill from Fletcher two minutes later, but the keeper recovered to smother the loose ball.
But moments later, it was all square as Katie Williams looped an effort above Fletcher and into the far corner out of nowhere.
On the hour mark Civvy thought they had regained their lead as Hancock couldn’t hold on from a corner headed towards goal, but as Hancock clawed the loose ball away, appeals that ti crossed the line were dismissed.
Hancock made straight forward saves from Jemima Harding and Harmony Wheeler as the visitors went in search for a crucial third goal.
Haley Raimist should have scored when Jess Brown sent in a beautiful cross from the left, but she side footed straight at Hancock.
Then just when it looked set to end level, Brown beat the offside trap to cross from the left one final time.
Katie Ashmead flicked her near post effort off the woodwork, before swivelling and squeezing the ball home to claim all three points.
Civvy head to North Bristol Wanderers next weekend, whilst Newent welcome Ellwood Ladies to Wildsmith Meadow.
Newent Town Women: Hancock, Jarvis, K Day, Chloe Day, Sterry, Jones, Leeman, Ireland, Lewis, Pritchard, Warwick
Subs: Long, Smith, Frattolillo, Williams, Chelsea Day
Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies: Fletcher, Gifford, Roberts, Raimist, Painter, Whitbury, Hart, H Wheeler, K Wheeler, Brown, Parker
Subs: Harding, Ashmead, D Wheeler, Whelan
C Martin Roofing Player of the Match – Jess Brown (Cheltenham Civil Service Ladies)
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