| The First Team of Newbury Ladies FC were in Chairman’s Cup action, when they travelled to Barton Rovers Ladies in a Round 2 tie. The home team kicked off the match, but the more positive start was made by Newbury. There was a very strong cross-field wind that made the conditions difficult for both sides, with the direction of the ball heavily affected. Newbury’s good start saw them earn the game’s first corner after six minutes and with captain, Ellie Reed, delivering the ball into the box, it was met by a Barton defender at the near post, but there was a strong shout for handball. The Referee waved Newbury’s appeals away however, as he felt it was ball to hand and not the other way round.
Becky Anderson was playing some lovely diagonal passes for Newbury into the Barton final third and one was latched onto by Gemma Burnett, but she shot wide of the upright. Burnett won a central free kick soon after for Newbury, which was 28 yards out. Leanne Saunders took the direct set play, and with the Barton keeper only parrying, Burnett was there in the six yard box to steal the ball from her. She played back to Reed, who’s shot was charged down in some desperate defending by the home side. But then they were able to break on Newbury and Kat Brown was called upon in goal, to save for a Barton corner. As the first half wore on, Barton were gradually able to come more into the contest, although it was still fairly even, with the midfield battle crucial to the proceedings. The tie remained nil, nil at half time.
Five minutes after the re-start and Newbury forced another corner. This was only half cleared and the loose ball fell to Newbury midfielder, Sam Atkins, who connected first time and sent in a strong shot, which was on target, but saved by the Barton keeper. That early chance aside, these were two evenly matched sides, which were cancelling the other out and neither team was able to break the deadlock. The clock began to tick down and it was looking as if just the one goal would make the difference, whichever way it went; or that the contest would head to a penalty shoot-out to decide the tie. Then in the 86th minute, Barton could have won the game, when a direct free kick hit the right hand post, but it rebounded away to safety for Newbury. Not long after, the Referee’s whistle signalled the end of normal time and sure enough, penalties would be required to determine a winner.
Barton were shooting first and all four of the first penalties were converted expertly, with Leanne Saunders and Shelley Forester coolly dispatching their spot kicks for Newbury. Then Barton missed their third penalty, giving Newbury an opportunity. Unfortunately, Jo Walsh-Perks also missed and so the scores were still tied at 2 apiece. Barton converted their fourth and then Newbury goalkeeper, Kat Brown, turned striker and she scored emphatically to keep Newbury’s hopes alive. It was now 3 all, with the fifth penalties for both teams to come. Barton scored, meaning Newbury had to score their next penalty to once again level the scores. Sadly for Newbury, Burnett’s spot kick was well saved and the Barton Rovers players were able to celebrate their passage into Round 3, claiming a 4-3 victory on penalties.
Despite that Cup heartache, the Joint Players of the Match for Newbury Ladies FC were midfielder, Sam Atkins, and keeper, Kat Brown, who had claimed her second clean sheet in a row.
Match Report by Sue Hewett
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