Ellie Reed took the set play and her cross found Harkness at the near post, who supplied a first time finish, which saw the Barton keeper diving full length to her left to save. It was all Newbury in the opening period, with further excellent chances falling to Beales and again to Forster. The Barton goalkeeper was producing save after save, and her team were thankful for it. Newbury did have one warning, when the opposition striker beat the offside trap to send a long range header goalward, but fortunately just wide. With Newbury having been unable to convert their earlier chances, it was perhaps inevitable that Barton Rovers would then accumulate a few of their own opportunities to open the scoring. Sure enough the pressure from the home side told and they did take the lead just after the half hour mark. This was following a Barton throw deep into Newbury territory. The ball was swept into the box and the home attacker nipped in to score.

One nil the score-line remained at the half time break.

Newbury again showed renewed purpose at the start of the second half, with Harkness and Forster again foiled by the outstanding Barton keeper. But 13 minutes in and Newbury had fallen further behind. Finding themselves two nil down and looking at another early cup exit. Their heads did not drop however and they continued to rally and attack Barton’s final third. But with time running out, an Amy McNab shot was deflected for a Newbury corner on 82 minutes. The resulting cross was handled by a Barton defender inside the box and so Newbury had a lifeline when the Referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Leanne Saunders, cool as you like, who dispatched the spot kick with ease. It was now 2-1 with just 8 minutes plus stoppage time remaining.

Crucially, within 2 minutes of hauling themselves back into the tie, Newbury conceded again. Barton going straight down the other end, forcing a corner and scoring their third goal of the game from close range. 3-1 now the score-line, with 84 minutes on the clock. Newbury were stunned momentarily and Barton were allowed another strike at goal from the next passage of play, rattling the cross bar. It had taken until the last ten minutes of the 90, but then the match had well truly exploded into life and had turned into a pulsating cup-tie, which was a credit to both sides. It was Newbury who scored again in the 88th minute, this time a stooping Harkness header turned in at the back post, following a Reed corner, making it 3-2, but still in Barton’s favour.

With time running out, Newbury were unable to find an equaliser to force extra time. Sadly for Newbury, the Referee’s whistle signalled the end of the match and they had again been edged out by just the one goal. Barton Rovers had delivered a double knock-out blow in as many weeks, so Newbury won’t be sorry not to have to face this opposition again this season.

Match report by Sue Hewett