Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.14 2021-22

Tangerines in Dreamland

Ashford Town (Middlesex) 3 Oxford Utd 0
Ashford Town (Middlesex) celebrated a stunning
Vitality FA Women's Cup Second Round upset win
over FAWNL Southern Premier Division opponents
Oxford United by three goals to nil at the Robert
Parker Stadium.
The London & South East Regional League
Premier Division leaders fully deserved their victory
with a superb team display, every player stepping up to
the mark to frustrate quality opponents and having
quality of their own to convert chances at crucial
moments.
Oxford looked to dominate the early stages,
forcing four corners in as many minutes but were
undone by a fine finish by Ashley Cheatley who broke
clear on the left and tucked a fine finish past the
advancing Paris Sercombe in the Oxford goal on 14 Ellen Clarabut clears away from Daisy McLachlan
minutes. (www.jamesprickett.co.uk).
Both sides were able to create chances as the
half developed, home keeper Sophie Schults making a fine save from Beth Lumsden whilst
Ashford were twice denied, Sercombe saving well from Jade Johnson and Lavana Neufville
going close to extending the Tangerines' lead.
Right on the break, Oxford nearly had an equaliser again via Lumsden who guided a shot
wide from a right wing cross, but Ashford were good value for their interval advantage having
created the better opportunities in the first 45 minutes.
Understandably, the visitors returned with real purpose and were very close to a leveller,
Schults again coming to Ashford's rescue with more brave and agile saves from Lumsden and
twice from sub Sarah King. When Riva Casley powered in a header from a corner it was Ellen
Clarabut who came to the rescue with a superb clearance off the line.
Cheatley was always a danger to the Oxford defence and when she again broke clear and
closed in on Sercombe's goal, she had the composure and vision to square the ball for strike
partner Neufville to add a crucial second on 64 minutes.
Skipper Alissa Down was at the heart of many of Ashford's best moments and it was
fitting that the decisive third goal fell to her, guiding home a header from another inviting
Cheatley assist on 83 minutes to seal the deal. Oxford had never been out of contention in an
enthralling contest and it had taken superb levels of concentration and teamwork from the hosts
to keep them at bay for 90 minutes.
The final whistle brought lengthy and loud expressions of delight for a job brilliantly done
from players, coaching staff and supporters as the Vitality Women's FA Cup brought magic to
Ashford Town (Middlesex).
Ashford Town (Middlesex): Sophie Shults, Anya Kinnane, Ellen Clarabut, Charlotte
Baker, Kalani Peart, Chloe Farrell, Rozalia Sitarz, Jade Johnson, Alissa Down, Lavana
Neufville, Ashley Cheatley. Subs: Laura Huse, Lucy Potter, Jordanne Hoesli-Atkins, Alice
Frise.
Oxford Utd: Paris Sercombe, Daisy Ackerman, Sophie Baker, Catherine Beaver, Riva
Casley, Sarah King, Beth Lumsden, Hannah MacKenzie, Daisy McLachlan, Lily Stevens,
Emily Wallace. Subs: Megan Alexander, Billie
Bough-French, Rose Kite, Nicole Leys, Holly
Sellwood, Gemma Sims, Merrick Will.
womenssoccerscene@mail.com Issue no. 14 - 2 December 2021