There were four Berkshire sides in Second Round Qualifying action in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup today and if you’d been really keen to see all the action, you could’ve attempted to squeeze in three of those ties as they were spread out across a gloomy, and on occasions wet, Sunday. Results confirmed that three were triumphant in their endeavours of the prestigious Adobe Women’s FA Cup with all of them taking home a prize total of £3,000 each.
Woodley United kicked off proceedings with an 11am tie away to Marsh Lane to face fellow league opponents Oxford City. With just five minutes on the clock Mollie Haines latched on to a poor save by the City keeper. Oxford wanted their share of the spoils however and on the 42nd minute found the equaliser only for Charley Evans to fire a header home from a free kick on the 45th. Jo-Anna Nowak-Allum was called into action for the Kestrels as City looked for more goals but the Woodley keeper denied them their chances.
FULL TIME: Oxford City 1 – 2 Woodley United
Ashridge Park made their debut in the competition as they headed to Newport Pagnell Town. The hosts were switched on from the get go and went into the break with a 2-0 lead. They’d virtually put the game to bed soon after the break with 65 minutes played and four goals to their name. But Lauren Broadhurst lead a determined line for Ashridge scoring a six minute brace before Newport went on to bag a final goal and snuff out the visitors chances. A valiant debut in the cup competition for Ashridge Park.
FULL TIME: Newport Pagnell Town 5-2 Ashridge Park
Reading Community Trust were making their own ‘debut’ in the Second Round Qualifying after their demotion to Tier 5 saw their newly formed Community Trust side entered into competition at the same stage they last did back in the 2006/7 season. They travelled to Brackley Town in the hope of securing their first win of the season. Mia Bradley and Zuzanna Gajzler had the Royals two up inside thirty minutes before Brackley Town fought back to cut it square and it looked like it might go to extra time before a top-left 25 yard screamer from Lily Brooke-Cousins sealed a place in the next round.
FULL TIME: Brackley Town 2-3 Reading Community Trust
Ascot United completed the quartet of ties with a 4:30pm kick off at The Racecourse, the only home time of the round for Berkshire sides, in style. They took a little longer to warm up than their fellow compatriots but fended off any attack from visitors Denham United before Olivia Glover pulled the trigger at 35 minutes to set the ball in motion for the Yellas. Leah Littlechild followed up just two minutes later and the Yellas went into the break with a comfortable lead. They made light work of the second half with a goal virtually every ten minutes which included a debut strike from Danielle Kjaer.
FULL TIME: Ascot United 5-0 Denham United
Third Round Qualifying ties are expected to take place on Sunday 13th of October. Clubs competing in the regional divisions of the Women’s National League will enter at this round. This includes our final Berkshire team to enter, Maidenhead United.
