Combined Counties League Women’s Midweek Cup
Apart from Penn & Tylers Green and the R’s, the other teams that had entered the competition were: Fulham, Chesham, Charlton U21, Woking, Abbey, CB Hounslow, Ascot, Ebbsfleet A, Ebbsfleet B, Tooting Bec, Maidenhead, Gillingham, London Seaward, Crawley Wasps, Portsmouth, Dulwich Hamlet, MK Dons and Eversley.
Due to a waterlogged pitch, this cup-tie at the French School Meadows, had been postponed a number of times.
Sammy collected Alan Barnes and I from outside Park Royal Station and after a brief hailstorm we parked up and headed for the Clubhouse.
I was told that there were would be no match programmes or team sheets available.
We were pleased to greet Steve Quashie upon his return and the match got underway just before 8pm.
The first attempt on target was directed straight at the R’s keeper, which was followed by the R’s initial shot being comfortably saved.
Penn & Tylers Green opened the scoring when Emma Nelson bundled the ball into the net from a corner.
QPR equalised when a centre from the right may well have got a touch on its way in and the goal was credited to Ellen Wardlaw.
An excellent long-ball found Kasha Petit who, after advancinginto the box, screwed her shot wide.
Rangers were now dominating possession, whilst the home side were relying on an occasional breakaway.
The R’s took a deserved lead when the keeper palmed the ball into the back of the net and then Ellie Searle made it three with a superb low drive. Half-time: 3-1.
Into the second-half and the Penn right-winger bombed down the flank before finishing with a low-shot which was well-saved.
Assia Fatri was introduced at the expense of Kasha Petit and other changes were later made.
As the R’s continued to look to increase their lead, Mel Hall’s superb dipping shot from outside the box bounced off the crossbar.
There was a confusing incident when the ref looked initially as he had given a Rangers goal, but then seemingly claimed that the keeper had been impeded and gave a free kick!
This win put the R’s into the quarter-final when they will face Chesham.
Thanks to Sammy for the lift.
Steve Russell