The visitors from Newbury kicked off the tie and went on the attack straight away. Kendall Gilmour playing in Amie Barnard, only for the Alton keeper to be alert, coming out quickly to clear. The Newbury back line then caught the Alton attackers off side twice in quick succession. But gradually the momentum swung in Alton’s favour, with plenty of attacking pressure from the home side. They earned two corners, which Newbury dealt with effectively, but they then had several opportunities to work Nicky Isted in the Newbury goal. Fortunately, the Alton strike force weren’t very clinical, with the efforts either straight at Isted or high and wide. As half time approached, it was almost constant Alton pressure, with block after block, and clearance after clearance being made heroically by the Newbury defenders. It remained 0-0 at the half time interval.

The second period began in a more even fashion and was more end to end. Barnard had a shot for Newbury that beat the keeper, but sadly didn’t quite have enough weight to cross the line and an Alton defender was able to get back and clear the ball away to safety. Next Nicole Beesley shot at the Alton keeper and Bex Walker had another shot charged down. It was in this period that Newbury now had the home side penned into their own half. When Barnard again found herself able to run in behind the defence, it looked as if she would score, only for a huge save from the goalkeeper to keep Alton in the match. Then Barnard’s looping header from the resultant corner, sailed just agonisingly over the bar.

Beesley then forced another excellent save from the Alton keeper, who was easily becoming Alton’s player of the match. The keeper leaping well to somehow push the shot from distance just over the cross bar once again. Alton were now on the ropes and Newbury sensed the game was theirs for the taking, and yet they still couldn’t find the breakthrough goal. Despite Newbury being well on top in the second half, the game remained goal-less and the Referee blew up for the completion of the 90 minutes. With nothing to separate the two sides, a further 30 minutes of extra time would be played.

Within one minute of the re-start, Newbury did take the lead. Goalkeeper Isted released Barnard on the right. She showed good skill to evade an Alton defender and charge down the right flank. She pulled back a cross from the by-line, finding Walker, who showed good composure to take a touch to control and then blast a right foot shot past the goalkeeper. One nil to Newbury. Just a minute later and the inspirational Ellie Reed fell to the floor with suspected cramp. There was a short delay, but Reed was able to continue. When she re-entered the fray however, her heel was clipped by an opposition player, although the Referee saw nothing in the challenge to award Newbury a free kick. This time, Reed needed to be withdrawn for a period and this prompted a re-shuffle for Newbury in both midfield and attack. The Alton players immediately stepped up a gear, so to try to steady the ship for Newbury, Reed was re-introduced after five minutes. The delays and the disruption gave Alton an opportunity to capitalise and they did this by scoring an equaliser with 102 minutes on the clock. As the teams soon changed ends for the second period of extra time, the tie was very finely poised at one goal apiece.

Neither team was able to find a winning goal in the remainder of extra time and after 120 minutes of a truly thrilling cup-tie, the match needed penalty kicks to determine a winner. Alton United took the first penalty and it was their goalkeeper who bravely stepped up to convert the opening spot kick. Reed then saw her kick go agonisingly over the bar for Newbury. Alton scored again to take a two goal advantage. Then Gilmour emphatically slotted home for Newbury. 2-1 now on penalties. Alton dispatched their next kick coolly and then Newbury unfortunately saw Leanne Saunders’ penalty well saved. Alton prepared for their fourth kick, knowing that if they scored, they would be through to the Semi Final. Isted was unable to make the save for Newbury and they found themselves cruelly bowing out 4-1 on penalties.

Match report by Sue Hewett