Page 6 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.12 2020/21

Wolverhampton Wanderers, Gillingham, Leyton Orient
and Southampton FC Women all beat higher division
opposition on the day to reach the Third Round of the Vitality
Women's FA Cup as the competition
resumed in full on Easter Sunday.
Wolves Women took on
Nottingham Forest and the teams could
not be separated on the day, battling out a
2-2 draw after extra time. Nyah Edwards
and Jade Cross scored Wolves' goals, with
Rosie Axten hitting a double for Forest, and
it was Wolves who were to progress via the
resulting penalty shootout. Bec Thomas
was the heroine as she pulled off the
winning penalty save, meaning that Kelly
Darby had scored what proved to be the
winner against her former club. Lilli Maple scores Gillingham’s first goal against Crawley Wasps
Wolves now face a fascinating tie (www.jamesprickett.co.uk)
against Watford who were 3-1 winners
over Milton Keynes Dons. Jade Bell fired the Dons into an eighth minute lead, which they
took into half time, but Watford were back on level terms within two minutes of the restart,
thanks to Rosie Kmita's header. Kmita then struck twice more in a four minute spell to
complete a hat-trick on the day and end the Dons' resistance.
Gillingham meanwhile travelled to Crawley Wasps and returned with a 3-2
victory under their belts. Otesha Charles scored a brace for the Gills and Lilli Maple was also
on target, after Crawley had twice taken the lead through Naomi Cole and Tash Stephens (see
match report).
Gillingham will be away again in the Third Round, to Cheltenham Town who have
been reinstated in the competition after Portsmouth were found to have fielded an
ineligible player in their tie. Pompey had won the match 2-0 with extra time goals from Jade
Bradley and Becki Bath, but an FA Board decision means that it is Cheltenham who progress
instead to face the Gills, with a tie against Arsenal a mouthwatering reward for the winners.
Southampton's 3-0 win against Plymouth Argyle would have come as less of a
surprise but the team is through to the Third Round stage for the second year in a row. Lucia
Kendall and Rachel Panting put the Saints two goals ahead at half time, with Rosie Parnell
adding the third towards the end.
Southampton will be at home again, this time to Yeovil Utd who were narrow 1-0
winners in their local derby tie away to Keynsham Town. A closely contested tie of few
chances was settled with twenty minutes remaining when Chloe Lloyd scored the only goal of
the game from the penalty spot.
One of the ties of the round saw Burnley FC Women get past Fylde Women with
a 1-0 victory after extra time. Nic Worthington scored the winner from the penalty spot to take
the Clarets through from a tight match.
Burnley will be at home to Sunderland who had a smoother progression when
beating Sheffield FC 5-1. Kiera Ramshaw and Holly Manders scored two early goals for the
Wearsiders, with Eve Blakey bagging a hat-trick.
Extra time was also needed as Brighouse Town overcame Newcastle Utd 3-0 in
their time. Normal time could not produce a winner but an Amy Woodruff double and Drew
Greene saw Brighouse home in the extra period and they are now away to Huddersfield
Issue no. 12 - 8 April 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk