Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.7 2022-23

Warminster Town 3 Bristol Rovers 2
Warminster Town progressed to the First Round of the Vitality FA Women's Cup with a
thrilling 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers in their Third Round Qualifying clash at their
Weymouth Street home.
The 1974-75 FA Women’s Cup finalists, watched by guest Eileen Foreman who
played and scored twice in that historic encounter, served up a Cup classic against a very
good Rovers team who nearly recovered from conceding twice inside the opening quarter
hour.
The teams had met a few weeks earlier in the league at the same location and had
battled out a 2-2 draw on that occasion, and with both sides having been promoted as
Champions of their respective divisions at the end of last season, a close match was in
prospect as the teams kicked off.
Warminster took the lead from a well delivered Millie Spratt free kick from distance
on eleven minutes and added a second soon after when Andrea Chludilova found Maddy
Brown in the area and she finished past Rovers goalkeeper Charlotte Cousin after evading
the last defender.
The Gas Girls responded well with Abi Todd always dangerous on the left and it was
a fine run which halved the deficit on 17 minutes. Town keeper Abi Footner saved well
from Todd's initial close range effort but was powerless to stop the follow up from the
rebound.
The match continued with end to end play at a fast pace with Footner and her
defence having to deal with several dangerous set piece deliveries from Libby Bell, whilst
the hosts were equally close to extending their lead on a couple of occasions.
Rovers levelled soon after the restart through Zoe Fielden-Stewart with a good low
shot but their joy was short lived as player of the match Millie Spratt restored the lead
from another free kick, this time from fully 40 yards. The lofted delivery seemed to benefit
from an unusually high bounce as it flew beyond Cousin's reach into the net for
Warminster's third on the day.
Chasing the game again, Rovers piled on the pressure for much of the last third of
the contest. Town defended with great resolve and did had chances to settle the outcome,
The visitors would be given a late chance via a spot kick on 85 minutes but the ball
flew high and wide of Footner's goal. Even so, it took two outstanding saves from the
keeper to preserve the lead, diving to block a loose ball then leaping to her left to tip away
another goalbound shot in added time.
The final whistle was greeted with joy by the majority of the 154 attendance but, in
truth, both teams deserve every credit for a fine Cup tie between high committed and
skilful participants.
Warminster Town: Abi Footner, Samantha Kirk, Brooklyn Cheal-Ferris, Millie
Spratt, Jasmine Harris, Rebecca Fry, Poppy Spratt, Libby Goater, Mia Blazey, Maddy
Brown, Andrea Chludilova. Subs: Sophie Billet, Molly McCarthy, Ella Broad, Yazmin
Spratt, Abbie Woodward, Sophie Kelly.
Bristol Rovers: Charlotte Cousin, Layah Douglas, Poppy Warren, Katie Rawlings,
Alva Lang, Natasha Toms, Zoe Fielden-Stewart, Chloe Campbell, Laura Curnock, Libby
Bell, Abi Todd. Subs: Anna Hubble, Betty Platt, Kelly Cutler, Georgia Vandries, Katie
Davies, Hannah Dix, Jamie Leigh Worlock.

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