Cheltenham Town Women make history with Extra Time victory in the Women’s FA Cup
Cheltenham Town Women have made history by reaching the Fourth Round of the Women’s FA Cup for the first time after beating Norwich City Women 2-1 after extra time at Kayte Lane, writes Abi Harding.
A brace from Una Lue ruled out Hope Strauss’ then equaliser to put the Robins into the hat for the fourth round.
The first half consisted of little chances and was very even.
Within the first five minutes however, the Canaries rattled the crossbar, Natasha Snelling’s half-volley from long range only inches away from the opener.
From then on, the hosts dominated but could not find the back of the net.
Cheltenham striker Henna Butcher couldn’t capitalise on Norwich keeper Sarah Quantrill’s mistake.
Minutes after, Quantrill made up for her error by saving Lue’s powerful effort at her near post.
Libby Bell was the next to try her luck just before halftime, but her effort on the right-hand side blazed over the bar.
Despite the opening exchanges of the second half being equal, the deadlock was finally broken by Cheltenham Town on the 53rd minute mark, when Lue latched onto a ball played to her in space by Butcher and made no mistake one-on-one against Quantrill.
Just four minutes later, were awarded a penalty when Snelling was brought down in the box by two Cheltenham players.
Centre-back Strauss stepped up to take it and slotted her effort calmly past Mia Smith in goal.
With the score back on level terms, it was anyone’s game with half an hour of normal time left to play.
Cheltenham were inches away from being back ahead, Bell’s cross meeting Lue, who’s headed effort dropped just wide of the right post.
From there onwards the game got scrappier, with both sides looking for ways to win the game.
With eight minutes left on the clock, Canaries defender Ellie Bishop made a brilliant sliding block to prevent Butcher’s effort on target.
Up the other end, the visitors had a big chance to nick it at the death, Lauren Hailes failing to convert from inside the box and firing over.
The sides were still level at the end of the 90 minutes, with extra-time needing to be played.
Cheltenham got the all-important goal in the first half of additional time, Lue again calmly finishing past Quantrill to score her second of the afternoon and her 10th of the season.
It was not all done and dusted for the hosts however, as Norwich hit the post and somehow could not get the ball over the line in an almighty goalmouth scramble.
The game was less than comfortable for the Robins, who are a league above the Canaries, but Tom Davies’ men are through to the fourth round of the Women’s FA Cup for what is the first time in their history.
Both sides return to league action next week, Cheltenham hosting MK Dons and Norwich making another away trip to Cambridge United.
Cheltenham Town Women: Smith, Hateley, Collis, Attenborough, Bell, Butcher, Llewellyn, Wellesley-Davies, Owen, Pemberton, Lue
Subs: Pugh-Jones, Trinci, Finch, Greenwood, Norman, North, Morgan-Hemmens
Norwich City Women: Quantrill, Fyle, Morran, Todd, Daviss, Snelling, Moore, Tomlinson, Shaw, Strauss, Kennard
Subs: Bishop, Medd-Gill, Powell, Knights, Densley, Symonds, Hailes, Cook, Booty
C Martin Roofing Player(s) of the match – Una Lue and Henna Butcher (Cheltenham Town Women)
Cover photo taken will full copyright by Marc Payne Photography and Cheltenham Town Women FC
