Surprisingly, Newbury’s players then looked unsettled by having scored a goal and they had a nervy next ten minutes. This gave confidence to Wokingham and they found an equaliser just five minutes later, after a free kick was awarded 25 yards out in a central position. Although Newbury’s goalkeeper for the day, Nicole Beesley, got her hands to the first shot from the set piece, she couldn’t hold onto the ball, and as it bobbled in the Newbury six yard box, it was a Wokingham attacker that was first to react and stab the ball home for 1-1. Newbury re-grouped quickly and went straight onto the attack again from the re-start. Working the ball down the left flank, Jo Walsh-Perks had advanced and she drove into the Wokingham penalty area with a strong dribble. She was surrounded by defenders and was blocked from getting her own shot away, but in the scramble, the loose ball was collected by Reed and she shot from just inside the edge of the area. Her low shot didn’t have much power and it should really have been dealt with easily by the goalkeeper. But the low shot slipped through the keeper’s hands and nestled into the net. It was Reed’s and Newbury’s second goal of the afternoon and it restored Newbury’s lead. 2-1 now.

Newbury were now playing with real confidence and this was turning into their best performance of the season so far. With an influential Caz Harkness restored to their midfield, she brought a calmness and composure on the ball. The next scoring chance for Newbury fell to Harkness, after a cross into the box by Reed. Sadly Harkness’ sweeping shot hit the far post, rolled along the goal-line behind the despairing keeper and was then cleared by a defender for a Newbury corner. Just after the half hour mark, Newbury made their first substitution when Shelley Forster was withdrawn and Tracey Beales was brought on. This resulted in a slight re-shuffle, with Beales going into a striking role and Captain Reed playing deeper in midfield, alongside Harkness. Their was one further incident just five minutes prior to half time, when Newbury’s Sam Atkins won a clean tackle to clear for a Wokingham throw-in, but unfortunately the home winger’s momentum carried her on and she fell over Atkins and landed very awkwardly. The Wokingham player was in immediate pain and so there was a short delay, as everyone waited for an ambulance to arrive and stretcher her off the pitch. She left the field to very sporting applause from both teams and the officials. The match was able to resume after the short delay, but Newbury kept their slender lead intact and it remained 2-1 to the visitors at the break.

Wokingham & Emmbrook started the second half brightly and with renewed vigour, but Newbury still looked dangerous on the break. An early chance falling to Beales, who superbly turned the defender to gain a yard of space, but unfortunately her low shot just evaded the far post. But then on the hour mark, Newbury conceded a free kick wide on their right. Wokingham again took a direct shot and although from a far greater distance than the free kick they scored from in the first half, the outcome was the same – GOAL! It was a thunderbolt of a strike and would have been unstoppable for any goalkeeper, as it sailed perfectly into the far top corner. Again Wokingham had equalised and Newbury were again pegged back to two goals apiece, with only half an hour remaining to play.

Despite seeing their lead once again evaporate, Newbury’s players showed terrific character and their attacking play was a joy to behold. Wokingham’s goal was now coming under an increasing threat, with gilt edge chances being spawned by Harkness and McNab, after excellent crosses from Molly Baker and Walsh-Perks respectively. There was to be another final decisive moment and it was Newbury’s Tracey Beales, who stepped up to the plate, after good work by her strike partner, McNab. McNab played a short pass into the feet of Beales and this time she made no mistake with another low shot, that was well placed, clipping the inside of the far post and going into the net, to send Newbury’s players into raptures. It was to prove to be the killer blow, with Newbury again re-taking the lead and then showing they were not prepared to let this 3-2 score-line slip. Forster was re-introduced for McNab inside the final 20 minutes, and she helped to shore up the midfield and further protect the Newbury defence.

As the Referee blew his whistle to signal full time, it had been a pulsating cup-tie, with plenty of drama and scoring action at both ends, but it was Newbury Ladies who were the deserved victors on the day. This win will now see them through to the First Round proper of the Southern Region Women’s League Cup, where they will meet Oxford City Ladies at Court Place Farm in just over a week’s time on 28 October.

Hero of the hour, by providing the winning Newbury goal, Tracey Beales was Newbury’s Player of the Match.

Match Report by Sue Hewett