Cray Wanderers Women vs London Road Women
FA Women’s Plate 3rd Round – Sunday 17th November – Match Report
Cray Wanderers Women 2
Atkins 34, Main 45
London Road Women 0
Cray Wanderers advanced into the last 16 of the Kent FA Women’s plate after victory against London Road Women at Flamingo Park with first half goals from Hannah Atkins and Millie Main.
The Wands beat the Chatham based side for the second season in a row and was a match of few chances as Cray settled down after a shaky start and took a two goal lead into the break and in the second half were able to see the game through and keep a clean sheet.
On a chilly afternoon, it was London Road who are 2nd in the SECWFL Premier who started the quicker and in the first ten minutes showed pace down both flanks and created a couple of early half chances and then Zoe Counter shot wide of goal and Chloe Edwards hit a shot on target from 20 yards well fielded by Sam Sharp. Edwards then put a cross across goal and Beth Shrubsole shot wide from distance.
Cray though were beginning to settle into the tie and Danielle Smith down the left put over a cross that Louise Jackson had to put behind for a corner.
Then, down the right, Millie Main found Kiera Syms who did well to set up Jessica Pooley who fired just wide of the left post.
The match then went through a touch of sparring for fifteen minutes but picked up pace again around the half hour mark.
First, for London Road Georgia Drewitt down the left set up Rachel McCarthy who volleyed wide of the right post. Then, McCarthy worked her way into the box down the right but with Hannah Gilmour closing down, her shot was saved at the near post. At the other end Gilmour played a ball over to Smith down the left but drove wide of the left post.
However, in the 34th minute the deadlock was broken when down the right Syms broke into the area down the right and her shot was saved by Jessica Nunn but following up Hannah Atkins tucked home the rebound.
Before half time, Counter shot wide for London Road but Cray added a second goal right on the whistle when down the right, Main hooked a shot towards goal from outside the area which deceived the keeper and high into the net for her third goal in three games and give Cray a cushion at half time.
HT: 2-0
The second half got decidedly colder and added to a brief sprinkle of rain meant the half was a bit slower but Cray were able to control most of the rest of the game without creating too many chances.
Early on, Cray won a corner down the right and Ellie Cole’s cross was headed wide by Jess Pooley.
For London Road, Katy Skelton hit a speculative shot from distance which was fielded by Sharp, who then did well to block at the near post a shot Edwards although the flag may have been up for offside. Shortly after, Louise Jackson was sin binned for London Road after two quick fire offences, a foul and dissent.
London Road had a little flurry and Edwards saw an effort saved and Sharp did well to make a good save to deny McCarthy.
For Cray, another Cole corner fell to Hrystyna Kulishko who glanced wide and Okasia Brown fired well over the top.
Then Ellie Rivers put over a good cross from the left which went across goal but Cray were defending well and looking for a clean sheet while Beyonce McKenna’s shot from distance went straight to Sharp.
London Road did almost pull a goal back in the 89th minute when they were awarded a free kick for handball just outside the area from which Jackson rattled the crossbar with her shot but in the end Cray had done enough to win the tie and move onto the last 16 with a composed and disciplined performance and a good win against a side that started the season well.
Cray next Sunday return to league action away to Kings Hill (2 pm kick off) with the next home match in the SCEWFL League Cup on 1st December vs Sevenoaks Town, 4.30 pm ko
Cray Wanderers: Sam Sharp, Grace Dodds (Lauren Henry, 75), Ellie Cole, Vic D’Urso, Hannah Gilmour, Kiera Syms, Okasia Brown (Emily Symonds 85), Danielle Smith (Ellie River, 80), Millie Main, Jessica Pooley (Hrystyna Kulishko, 65), Hannah Atkins
London Road: Jessica Nunn, Katy Skelton, Louise Jackson, Eleanor Harrington, Mel Cook, Beyonce McKenna, Beth Shrubsole, Heather Dixey, Chloe Edwards, Kirty Goodall, Ellie Prebble: Subs: Ella Crowe, Rachel McCarthy, Zoe Counter, Georgia Drewett
