Cray Wanderers Women vs Sutton United Women
Isthmian League Cup – Wednesday 9th October – Match Report
Cray Wanderers Women 0
Sutton United Women 4
Cutler 37, Harris-Walters 47, 64,
Palmer- Luckhurst 80
Cray Wanderers Women’s first midweek game of the season ended in defeat as Sutton United advanced in the Isthmian League Cup after proving just too strong on the night despite a positive Wands performance at Flamingo Park.
On a soggy night, Cray came close to scoring in the 2nd minute when a corner from Hannah Gilmour down the right to the far post was headed wide by Ellie Cole.
Sutton United though who play higher up the league system in the London and South East Regional Premier almost took the lead in the 8th minute when Jazz Backhurst’s shot was pushed round the left post by Jessica Cox. From the corner, Hannah Baptist glanced a header off target.
Cray won a couple of corners and Danielle Smith shot over the top but it was Sutton who were creating the better chances and Millie Cutler was played through and her shot was saved by the legs of Cox and following up Sophie Modak fired over.
For Cray, Danielle Smith’s cross from the right into the area fell to Jessica Pooley who flicked the ball towards goal and the Sutton keeper Mia Francis got a touch to the ball and away from Smith looking to follow up.
Sutton almost scored when Modak’s cross-shot went across goal and then a corner flicked off the head of Baptist and wide.
In the 37th minute Sutton took the lead when down the right, Toni-Anne Bussey’s cross found Cutler inside the area who slotted in from 13 yards.
Cray had battled well but trailed at half time but were still very much in the game.
HT: 0-1
However, two minutes after the restart Sutton added a second when the visitors won the ball inside the Wands penalty area and following up Ilana Harris-Walters was on hand to make it 2-0.
Cray threatened down the right and Hrystyna Kulishko’s cross-shot looped across goal but Sutton United were beginning to control the game.
Sutton almost added a third when K’shaela Burch-Waldron was put through but Cox did well to push the shot away.
United did score a third in the 64th minute with perhaps the best goal of the match, superbly taken by Harris-Walters who won the ball down the right, darted into the box and round Cox to slot the ball into the net.
For Cray, Kulishko put a good ball through to Jessica Pooley but Francis in the Sutton goal did well to come and claim before she could get a shot away.
Sutton came close to a fourth when Jada Palmer-Luckhurst saw a shot held and then drew a good save from Cox with her feet when bearing down on goal.
The scoring was completed ten minutes from time when Palmer-Luckhurst down the left of the area was quickest to react in a crowded area to fire into the net.
The game had been long over as a contest but Cray did come close to getting on the scoresheet in added time when Kulishko was put through but her shot was well saved by Francis.
In the end Sutton just had a little bit more punch up front and advanced to the next round of the Isthmian League Cup but Cray gave it a good go but now can concentrate on a big league match on Sunday at home to Sevenoaks Town, 4.30 pm ko.
Cray Wanderers: Jessica Cox, Hannah Gilmour, Vittoria D’Urso (Grace Dodds, 78), Megan Webster, Ellie Cole, Millie Main, Louise Chenery (Hannah Atkins, 67), Hrystyna Kulishko, Danielle Smith (Olivia Gregory, 52), Chloe Ashdown (Kiera Syms, 61), Jessica Pooley (Renette Ofori, 86)
Sutton United: Mya Francis, Zoe Walters, Maddie Heavingham-Ford, Ella Meehan, K’shaeda Burch-Waldron, Hannah Baptist, Jazz Backhurst. Toni-Anne Bussey, Sophie Modak, Millie Cutler, Ilana Harris-Walters: Subs: Jada Palmer-Luckhurst, Eden Clark, Bonnie Quartaine. Tomaka de Ascencao, Laura Martinez.
