Each side had openings inside the first ten minutes. Wealdstone first, with a shot off target and then Newbury pressed down the right, earning a corner. With Wealdstone unable to clear at the first time of asking, Kela Maskell fired a shot back in that just glided over the cross bar. The match was fairly even, with plenty of end to end attacking. Newbury were defending well from corners and then forcing a few corners of their own. Caroline Harkness unable to steer her header goal-ward from one such Leanne Creese corner kick.

Lou Williamson was playing exceptionally well in goal for Newbury, being very alert to come quickly off her line and gather when required. The breakthrough came on 23 minutes, with Newbury awarded a free kick 35 yards out following a hand ball. Creese swung the ball into the penalty area and with Ellie Reed challenging with the goalkeeper, the ball dropped kindly for Maskell to drive a low shot brilliantly into the far corner of the net. It was a sweetly struck show and was Gunnlaugdottir’s first goal for the club, giving her side a one nil lead.

Newbury had a good chance to extend their lead just two minutes later, again from a cross from a free kick, but this time striker, Bex Walker’s shot was narrowly wide of the upright. The half progressed, but Newbury were unable to capitalise any further and the score remained one nil to the visitors from Berkshire at the half time break.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Wealdstone came out firing, as expected. Unlike the previous week however, Newbury were not able to defend as resiliently for as long and so it was that Wealdstone found an equaliser on 52 minutes. Their player, with space in midfield, launched a long shot 25 yards out, that was perfectly placed just inside the post, leaving the Newbury keeper with no chance.

The home side took the lead just seven minutes later, when their right winger cut in-field and again produced a long shot that curled around the keeper and into the far corner. 2-1 now the score-line and Wealdstone looked well in control of the match.

Even with changes from the bench, Newbury were unable to shift the momentum or find a way back into the game. With only 16 minutes left on the clock, Newbury changed formation to a back three and threw on an extra attacker. It was to no avail sadly, as Wealdstone all but sealed the tie in the 77th minute, when Newbury failed to clear from a free kick and the ball was stabbed home from close range. It was Wealdstone’s third goal of the day, giving them a 3-1 lead and a 2 goal cushion that they didn’t relinquish. So Newbury bowed out of the FA Cup at the first attempt, with Wealdstone the deserved 3-1 victors on the day.

Newbury’s Player of the Match was Lou Williamson, who deputised superbly in goal and gave a very solid, capable and brave performance throughout.

Report by Sue Hewett