Their Captain’s return buoyed Newbury’s players and they attacked with purpose. Gemma Burnett released for a strong run into the box, that saw her lofty cross well saved by Wycombe’s keeper. But in the next passage of play, Wycombe found a penetrating attack, which had the Newbury defence scrambling and Kat Brown was called upon in goal to make an excellent point blank save. As Newbury cleared, Jo Walsh-Perks ventured forward on the left and her cross into the area fell kindly for Burnett. Her shot was struck with venom and the defender raised an arm to protect herself. With Newbury appealing, the penalty was given for handball, so up stepped Leanne Saunders. She showed excellent composure and stroked the ball into the bottom corner, to give Newbury a one nil lead on 11 minutes.

That lead didn’t last too long however, as Wycombe started to come more into the game and they were able to level within ten minutes. When a Wycombe player was not closed down in midfield, she elected to shoot from 30 yards and found the top corner for 1-1. Wycombe were edging the possession and they were starting to dominate as the first half wore on. Still the scores remained tied at one apiece, despite one rasping shot from the Wycombe left winger skimming the Newbury cross bar just before half time.

Both teams knew that the next goal would be crucial as they took to the field again for the second period. It was a cagey affair, but Newbury forced two corners in quick succession. The second of which, was not cleared by the Wycombe defence and it became like a pin ball inside the six yard box, but somehow Wycombe escaped and they did eventually clear to safety. The visitors made the game’s first substitution just after an hour and the change paid off in the 68th minute when Newbury failed to clear a cross from the left and the ball was pounced on by their striker to squeeze her shot underneath the despairing dive of Brown. For the first time, the visitors from Buckinghamshire had taken the lead. 2-1 now to Wycombe, with just over a quarter of the contest remaining.

Becky Anderson was forced off for Newbury due to a slight injury concern and this required a re-shuffle in personnel, following the introduction of Ayala Truelove. Sadly for Newbury, they were not able to find a way back into the tie, having to go down to just ten players in the 80th minute, when injury also ended Lauren Hanson’s afternoon. Despite every effort given, Newbury just didn’t have enough left to really threaten and the match ended with Wycombe Wanderers recording a deserved 2-1 victory.

Player of the Match for Newbury was Captain, Ellie Reed, who heroically played a full 90 minutes with a wound that would subsequently require stitches and potentially rule her out of her team’s next game.

Match report by Sue Hewett