AFC Newbury Ladies Football
Match Report -- Season 2005-6
FA Women's Cup in partnership with Nationwide.
First qualifying round
11th September 2005
AFC Newbury 4 Kings Sports LFC 1
In contrast to their slow start in the previous game Newbury were instantly on the attack in this game. The pressure on the opponents’ goal was incessant with Leanne Creese making lots of progress down the right and Lisa Duncan winning lots of ball on the left. There were several opportunities for Kendall Gilmour, Colleen Geis, Chelsea Starbuck and Leanne to score. It was only after 20 minutes that Kings Sports got into the Newbury half, their left winger causing problems and resulting in a shot wide of the goal. Newbury resumed their attacking with Kings Sports defending deep. For 10 minutes none of the opposition was within 20 yards of the halfway line. Kendall had a powerful shot pushed away for a corner by the keeper before Kings Sports relieved the pressure with a couple of corners. Then just before half time with a quick break down the left the away team scored a goal much against the run of play to give them a 1-0 lead just before halftime. Caz Harkness almost equalised immediately with a break down the right but put the shot into the side netting.

This Newbury is now quite experienced and far from letting the goal get to them at the start of the second half they just increased the pressure on their opponents. Lisa, Leanne and Caz all had shots just wide and following another Leanne cross Lisa just failed to connect with the ball in front of the goal. After 15 minutes Lisa and Leanne switched sides in midfield and this was immediately rewarded when Colleen passed to Leanne who put the ball past the despairing keeper to equalise the score. Chelsea combined with Emma Theochari, who was having another excellent game at left back, to give Colleen a shot which she repeated moments later for the keeper to make another save. Leanne and Colleen worked hard down the left to gain possession which allowed Kendall to score the second goal with an unstoppable shot into the top left hand corner of the goal. A minute later Kendall broke through the defence to score a simple tap in inside the 6 yard box. Kings Sports then had a good break which could easily have resulted in a goal but for an excellent save by stand-in keeper, Christina Brown, playing only her second game of football, the first in goal. Leanne then put the game beyond doubt with a fine solo effort running through the middle of a tiring defence from the halfway line to make the score 4-1.

Players: Chistina Brown, Kelly Do, Gemma Povey (capt), Hannah Burgess, Emma Theochari, Leanne Creese, Chelsea Starbuck, Caz Harkness, Lisa Duncan, Colleen Geis (sub Sue Hewett 71 mins), Kendall Gilmour.
Referee: G. Pithers
Goal scorers
Leanne Creese (63,76)
Kendall Gilmour (71,72)
Player of the match
Next fixture
25th Sept 2005 2 p.m.
FA Women's Cup 2nd qualifying round - Lewes LFC
at Faraday Road Stadium