It was Newbury who struck first after just 6 minutes, when Ruby Oliver played a delightful cross field pass to Rachel Panting, wide on the right. She advanced, before cutting in and unleashing a dipping shot from 25 yards. The Woodley keeper was well beaten and Newbury took a one nil lead.

This stung Woodley into action and the home defence was immediately under pressure, as Woodley began to mount a series of attacks. They forced an equalising goal from close range, after Newbury failed to clear a corner and the score line was 1-1 with barely 11 minutes played. Despite the continual rain, the pitch condition at Donnington was excellent and an enthralling Cup-tie was now well underway.

Woodley came close to taking the lead on 26 minutes, when a shot from a corner was blocked on the line by Naomi Purvis and then cleared by Gemma Povey. Newbury were then able to break, after good hold up play by Gemma Burnett and a passing interchange between Panting and Oliver. It was Oliver who was then fouled on the edge of the Woodley box and a free kick awarded to the home side. The chance amounted to nothing for Newbury however and Woodley cleared and then broke forward with devastating pace down the right flank. Before Newbury knew it, the cross had come into the box and the Woodley winger had ghosted in at the back post for a simple tap-in, to give her side a 2-1 lead on the half hour mark.

Newbury conceded again immediately after the re-start and found themselves 3-1 down at the break. With competition rules allowing for rolling substitutions, Newbury made two changes after half time, with Chloe Hunt taking over in goal and Leanne Saunders coming on at full back.

The second half started with Newbury re-energised and they had a good scoring opportunity almost straight away, after Burnett was played in by Panting. As the Woodley keeper had advanced off her line, Burnett lifted her shot over the goalkeeper, but saw her effort trickle just inches wide of the far post. Woodley had a further chance too, but the shot was wide and off target.

Burnett then had a very similar chance for Newbury, when she again attempted to lob the keeper, but this time her shot was saved and pushed wide for a corner. Not long after and Hunt was called into action to come out from goal in the Newbury penalty area. She was swiftly off her line to pressure the Woodley forward, who’s effort went the wrong side of the post and behind for a Newbury goal kick.

The second half really exploded into life just after an hour of play. Oliver was in possession for Newbury in a more central position and she played a defence splitting pass that Leanne Creese latched onto and ran clear of the Woodley defence. She showed good composure to slot the ball low past the keeper, making the score line Newbury 2, Woodley 3.

Instead of tipping this Cup-tie back into Newbury’s favour, they were again guilty of switching off after a goal and Woodley re-took a two goal advantage by scoring again themselves straight from their kick off. This time Woodley’s striker showed good movement inside the 6 yard box as the cross came in from the right and she got in front of the Newbury defender to finish well from close range and give her side a 4-2 lead.

This was a huge psychological blow for Newbury, as it effectively dented any hopes of a possible comeback. Woodley now looked more like a side who could comfortably see out the match and secure their safe passage into the next round. The game was not without further incident however, as Woodley extended their lead on 73 minutes, scoring their fifth goal of the afternoon. With Woodley’s wingers using their pace down both flanks to such good effect, it was clear to see why the visitors currently sit at the top of the Premier Division in the Southern Region Women’s League.

With Newbury themselves still unbeaten in the league in the Southern Region Division One, they continued to show plenty of spirit and battling qualities to the end. Proving themselves decent opponents and ensuring that the tie remained competitive up until the final whistle. Newbury pulled a goal back in the 80th minute when Laura Ainscough got on the end of a cross with a superb header that nestled just inside the far post.

That was to be the last real action of a rain-soaked afternoon, with Woodley United securing a deserved 5-3 victory, but it was a game in which Newbury Ladies were definitely not disgraced.

Match report by Sue Hewett