FAWNL League Cup
Team: Merrett, Curr, McCrea, Jordinson, Lewin, Akerman, Hennessy, Hill, Nygaard-Parsons, Petit, Searle
Sammy collected me from Park Royal for my first visit to the AJN Stadium. The ground has a running track around the perimeter of the pitch and the one stand incorporates a Clubhouse.
Also in attendance, was a Rangers fan from Bristol who has a season ticket close to Sammy in the Stanley Bowles Stand.
Following an indifferent start, the R’s began to settle. Five minutes or so in, Ellie Searle got to the bye-line, knocked the ball over to Kasha Petit at the near-post, where she set-up Emily Hill who then superbly chipped the ball over the keeper and under the crossbar.
At the other end, Courtney Merrett made a flying save to deny the home side an equaliser.
After 24 minutes, the Keynsham No.7 broke away, got into a good position but then shot wide of the target.
Renai McCrea and Ellie Searle switched positions down the left-flank.
After Mr Gunarathna had awarded the home side a free kick, the ball was knocked into the box, but the resulting header missed the target.
Following Ellie Searle’s excellent run, the R’s No.11 set up Emilia Nygaard-Parsons but shadowed by a defender, she couldn’t get quite enough power on her shot to trouble the Keynsham keeper. Half-time: 1-0.
Vicky Vipond equalised for the home side within minutes of the second-half.
Another excellent run from Elle Searle took her to the bye-line, where she squared the ball into the box to Emilia Nygaard-Parsons, whose effort was grabbed by the keeper.
Shortly after Grace Stanley had come on, her low drive ended up going behind and from the resulting corner, Katie Akerman headed just over the bar.
Following an excellent move, Kasha Petit forced a good stop from the keeper, who then did well to also save the follow-up.
The referee booked the Keynsham No.7 following a foul on Alice Curr.
Despite two Keynsham players being miles offside, the resulting shot ended up just wide of the target.
The away side were certainly having the best of it and Alice Curr’s corner was headed just over the crossbar.
Another Keynsham player was booked, this time for fouling Jess Harris.
Ellie Searle nabbed the Rangers’ winner, with a low drive after some excellent build-up play from midfield.
Steve Quashie made four changes after the break when he brought on; Grace Stanley, Jess Harris, Izzy Owen and Grace Shephard respectively.
Next up for the R’s is a visit to the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Steve Russell