AFC Newbury Ladies Football
Match Report -- Season 2004-5
Thames Valley Counties Women's League Cup Replay
16th January 2005
AFC Newbury 4 Marlow Youth 1
At the start of this game Newbury still seemed to be struggling to blow away the cobwebs of the long Christmas break. Newbury were winning plenty of ball but their distribution was poor and Marlow had plenty of players behind the ball. Rather like last week's game when Newbury did get shooting chances they managed to shoot directly at the keeper who coped well. On 2 or 3 occassions Marlow broke down the left and caused some concern in the Newbury defence. At half time there was no score.

Newbury came out in the second half with a much more positive attitude. They were much quicker to the ball playing the ball faster and with more accuracy. Kendall opened the scoring 5 minutes into the half with a well taken goal giving the keeper no chance. This changed the game. Caz Harkness, in particular, was creating space and dominating the right central side of midfield which was giving opportunities to the Newbury attack. Minutes later Kelly Stokes increased the lead with a neat header from a cross by Caz from the right. Ten minutes later Kendall scored with a shot of phenomenal skill, off the outside of her right foot, over the advancing keeper, from outside the 6 yard box to the left of the goal. She then completed her hattrick after collecting a poor clearance by the keeper and striking the ball over her into the net. Leanne was extremely unlucky not to score after a powerful run on goal and a long shot hit the post and rebounded accross the face of the goal. Leanne followed the ball in but somehow a defender managed to clear the ball off the line for a corner.

There then followed a really bizarre incident. From a very precise cross by Caz, Kendall scored what seemed to everybody, but the referee, an excellent headed goal. The referee disallowed it for handball but then added to everybody's bemusment by deeming it to be a deliberate hand ball and issuing Kendall a yellow card. Marlow gained a late consolation from a free kick when the Newbury defence momentarily lost concentration.

Newbury meet Brize Norton in the league cup quarter final on the 6th February.

Players: Chloe Hunt, Lorna Parr (sub Sue Hewett 65 mins), Gemma Povey (capt), Hannah Burgess, Emma Theochari, Kelly Stokes, Chelsea Starbuck (sub Holly Randall 75 mins), Caz Harkness, Sam Sowerby (sub Kerriann Benson 75 mins), Kendall Gilmour, Leanne Creese.
Referee: P. Merrifield
Goal scorers
Kendall Gilmour (50,63,68)
Kelly Stokes (53)
Player of the match
Leanne Creese
Next fixture
23rd January 2003 14:00
Friendly
Swindon Town Reserves
At Faraday Road Stadium