Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.2 2022-23

Abbey Rangers 2 Steyning Town Community 2
(Steyning won 6-5 on penalties)
Steyning Town Community reached the Second
Qualifying Round of the Vitality Women's FA
Cup via a penalty shootout win against Abbey
Rangers after playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw at
Abbey's The Moor home. The match was notable
for the quality of the goals and for the stirring
comeback from the Southern Region Division
One South hosts after Steyning had gone in to the
break two goals to the good.
The visitors, promoted to the London and
South East Regional League Division One South
after a brilliant 2021-22 season, were grateful to
Abby Chriss for a first half brace which separated
the teams. In fact, Abbey had exerted a lot of
pressure on the Steyning goal, forcing several Leigh-Anne Bridgewater closes down Sya Dohman
corners and getting in good positions but the (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
visiting defence was very solid.
The opening goal on 22 minutes was a very composed finish when Chriss got clear
of the defence to lift the ball over the advancing Carla Hobbs. The second was a beauty
right on half time as Chriss controlled a waist high pass and immediately hit a 25-yard
effort on the turn which flew over Hobbs.
Abbey returned with real purpose after the pause and basically laid siege on the
Steyning goal for over twenty minutes. Defender Emma Derham made a superb tackle
to stop Isobel Saunders, three further goalbound efforts were blocked and keeper
Rebecca Smallman made a crucial low save from Lauren Timbrell.
However. on the hour it was Timbrell with a perfectly timed run and half volley
finish who gave Abbey hope. A clever short corner and far post cross saw Ella MacLellan
power home a header to level things up with twenty minutes to go.
Steyning responded well to that double blow and the match resumed a more even
tone in the final stages. Both keepers made further good saves with Hobbs twice denying
Chriss a hat trick in the final seconds.
Both keepers also made fine saves in a tense penalty shootout but it was
Smallman's save from the seventh Abbey spot kick which gave the Barrownesses the win
and a happy return to Sussex after a Cup thriller.
Abbey Rangers: Carla Hobbs, Georgia Mudd, Bethany Anders, Shannon Byrne, Ella
MacLellan, Bethany Easterman, Lucie Hill, Lauren Timbrell, Isobel Saunders, Jessica
Tripp, Sya Dhoman. Subs: Rebecca Burtenshaw, Hannah Morrison, Izzy Gleiwitz.
Steyning Town Community: Rebecca Smallman, Karen Bridgewater, Lou
Creasey, Emma Derham, Loren Cardy, Mahella Norris, Jasmine Godden, Ellie
Kinloch, Abby Chriss, Leigh-Anne Bridgewater, Chloe Cressey. Subs: Melissa Killner-
Brown.

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