Capital Women’s Cup
Team: Crierie, Cooper, Searle, Hill, D’Santos, Lewin, Dzyadyk, Wellesley-Davies, Stanley, Ali, Amerena
Subs: Smith, Lalani, Owen, Orchard, Leach
With Hanwell’s ground unavailable, the game was switched to Honeycroft, the home of Uxbridge FC.
Grace Stanley made a welcome return to the starting line-up after a lengthy lay-off, and there were debuts for Lauren Amerena and Hana Lalani who was brought-on in the second-half.
Rangers started the game, the more dangerous of the two sides.
A ball in from the right picked out Grace Stanley who proceeded to fire the ball at Emma Roberts.
Then, Meila D’Santos’ free kick from over 25 yards narrowly evaded the crossbar.
The R’s went even closer on 13 minutes, when Lilly Wellesley-Davies’ free kick resulted in Annie Dzyadyk’s shot coming off the upright.
However, against the run of play and with their first attempt at goal, the visitors took the lead in the 16th minute, when Sandra Martins’ low drive found the bottom corner.
Rangers got a deserved equaliser eight minutes or so later. Lilly Wellesley-Davies got a close-range touch at the back post, following a corner.
Emily Hill’s precise 30 yard pass found Annie Dzyadyk, who went on to fire the ball at Emma Roberts.
On 37 minutes, Grace Stanley’s lob ended up coming off the outside of the post.
The hosts had by far the best of the first-half, but at half-time it remained all-square.
As the rain intensified, Rangers continued to be the better side, playing the ball around nicely.
On the hour mark, Emma Roberts managed to successfully palm Lauren Amerena’s shot behind for a corner.
Five minutes later, Emily Hill headed Jess Cooper’s cross just over the crossbar.
Two changes were made on 68 minutes, when debutant Hanna Lalani and Jess Leach were introduced at the expense of Meila D’Santos and Grace Stanley respectively.
Shortly after, Ellie Searle went on a run which concluded with the R’s No.3 shooting just wide of the target.
Rangers took the lead in the 74th minute when Lauren Amerena curled the ball into the net from around 25 yards.
Minutes later, Mr Kausar booked Annie Dzyadyk.
On 79 minutes, although grounded, Caitlin Crierie made a superb finger-tip save.
This was soon followed by Lauren Amerena making way for Fern Orchard.
The R’s were reduced to ten players in the 88th minute, when Fran Ali was shown a second yellow, following a foul on Hayley Hoare.
Sandra Martins dramatically levelled the score for the Bees in the 93rd minute and therefore forcing the tie to a penalty shoot-out.
- 1. Annie Dzyadyk made no mistake with the first spot-kick.
- 2. Betty Larkin stepped up and made it all square.
- 3. Then Jess Leach’s attempt was saved.
- 4. Sandra Martins put the Bees ahead – 1-2.
- 5. Ellie Searle brought it back to 2-2.
- 6. Lily Whitelock then blasted the ball over the crossbar.
- 7. Hana Lalani had a second opportunity after the keeper had moved – 3-2.
- 8. A low shot wide of Caitlin Crierie made it 3-3.
- 9. The hosts got their noses in front, courtesy of the Rangers captain, Emily Hill.
- 10. But it was then 4-4 after the next spot-kick.
- 11. Fern Orchard’s effort was unsuccessful.
- 12. And it was all over when Sam Lanza slotted the ball home to send the visitors into the next round.
Despite being much the better side, creating numerous chances, hitting the post twice and playing some superb football, Rangers bowed out via the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
Steve Russell