Slough Town Women may feel it was a lost opportunity – and certainly £1,350 prize money surrendered – after they were defeated in the cruellest way possible, on penalty kicks after a drawn Arbour Park clash with Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League outfit Marlborough Town in the Women’s FA Cup last Sunday afternoon.
The Rebels – who had defeated Ashridge Park 6-0 in an all-Berkshire Preliminary Round clash in the previous round – led but were losing in a topsy-turvy encounter. Megan Rota-Duffy scored a fine individual goal as Slough made another fast start, but this time they were pegged back within minutes by the visitors, who went on to take a surprise lead by the hour mark. Ellen-Mae Harris levelled it up quickly with a shot that just squeezed through the hands of the Marlborough keeper but there was no further scoring.
There are no replays or extra time in the Women’s FA Cup, so the match proceeded to the lottery of penalties. Amber Saunders and Nikhita Sangha converted their kicks, but unfortunately the away side were more clinical from the spot and they advanced to a Second Qualifying Round tie at home to Bognor Regis Town.
Teenager Saunders – who scored within thirty-seconds against Ashridge in her way to a hat-trick – was nominated to step up first in the shoot-out, and the youngster recalls: “I didn’t really feel much pressure, but didn’t expect to be picked for the first penalty. In training my pens were good, going top right. I aimed for the ‘keeper to make the first move, as she moved left I played it down the middle, but in training I would aim high corners but it depends how the keeper moves before striking it.”
Despite the disappointment of failing to win the game, confident Saunders added: “I thought at the start (of the game) it went well as we were playing out the back more with confidence, from ‘keeper to winger working our way up, but it was hard as they was playing a low block as their aim was to get to penalties. I believe perhaps our weakness are our penalties.”
So it is back to the league for the Rebels. They start their Southern Region Women’s Football League Division 1 North campaign on Sunday 13th September in a 2pm kick off against Barton United – a 4-2 win, with the next home tie against Chesham United on 27th September.
