ESSEX COUNTY WOMEN’S CHALLENGE CUP

QUARTER-FINAL

 Sunday 4^th January 2004

 East Thurrock United 1 – 3 Chelmsford City

 CHELMSFORD City progressed to the semi-finals following their convincing win over their previously unbeaten opponents.

    The match was switched to City’s Barnston AFC ground at the last minute due to East Thurrock’s ground being unplayable.

    City took a seventh minute lead following good skilful play in the centre by Lucy Garrett and a good ball forward by Sharon Brownlie.  Emma Ridings ran onto the pass and lobbed the ball into the net.

    Thurrock were reduced to ten players after 25 minutes when the goalkeeper rushed from her area  but was beaten to a through ball only to block the goal-bound shot with her hand.  The referee had no alternative but to show her the red card.

    In the 41^st minute, Ridings beat three players in a mazy run before tucking the ball into the net.

    The second half was only two minutes’ old when Paula Drane extended City’s lead after Brownlie played a good ball forward to Drane who netted with a powerful low shot.

    City introduced the experienced Emma Wake on the left whose support play created a number of openings for the forwards while the youthful Natalie Madlin came on up front, injecting fresh legs against a tiring Thurrock defence.

    Thurrock pulled a goal back with 12 minutes remaining after a long ball over the top with a forward’s shot too high for goalkeeper Carly Waters’ leap who only managed to get her fingertips to the ball.

    City missed a late penalty after Madlin was pulled back, but were happy with the win, and they will now travel to meet Cup holders Barking on February 22.

Chelmsford City: Waters, Marshall, Thompson, Binks, Bell, Wells, Brownlie (Wake), Cole, Drane (Harman), Ridings ( Madlin), Garrett.