It was the visitors from Berkshire however, that started the brightest, winning the ball straight from Fleet Town’s kick off and storming into the penalty area through Bex Walker and Caroline Harkness. When the home defence could only parry the shot from Harkness, the rebound fell to the on-rushing Leanne Creese and her first time finish found the back of the net to open the scoring inside the game’s first minute.

Newbury were unable to capitalise further on their dominance in the opening period and the cup tie turned when the Referee correctly awarded Fleet Town a penalty on the quarter hour mark. With the spot kick converted, the scores were once again tied at one goal apiece.

Newbury then fell behind after 21 minutes, when they were undone by an excellent team move from Fleet, down Newbury’s left side. The cross came into the box and was met sweetly by the home striker at the near post, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. 2-1 now to Fleet Town and it was to be an advantage that they would take into the half time break.

Newbury were reinvigorated at the start of the second half, as they went in search of an equaliser, but the home defence held firm. Newbury’s best chance fell to their previous scorer, Creese, on 53 minutes, when a Nicole Beesley free kick from the left was floated into the six yard box and Creese was left un-marked. Unfortunately, she sent her volley the wrong side of cross bar and the chance went begging.

Fleet were next to threaten with another good move unlocking the Newbury defence, only for the shot from the right cannoning back off the base of the near post. As the match entered its final stages, Fleet were able to put the game to bed when they converted for a third time on 76 minutes to extend their lead to 3-1. It would now be a long way back for Newbury and time was running out. Harkness did rattle the cross bar with one long range effort, but sadly it wasn’t to be Newbury’s day.

The result was well and truly settled when Fleet scored their fourth goal in the 86th minute. 4-1 the final score-line.

So Newbury Ladies FC enter the festive break with a cup defeat, but they will hope for better fortunes for their league campaign in the new year, as they will be aiming to preserve their status in the Southern Region Women’s Premier League.