EASTERN REGION WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE

LEAGUE CUP – FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND

 Sunday 31st October 2004

 Chelmsford City 3 – 2 AFC Kempston Rovers

     CHELMSFORD went into this tricky cup tie having had a two week enforced break and started the brighter of the two teams.

    Within three minutes, Sharon Brownlie sent a through ball to Natalie Madlin who was unfortunate to see her shot go wide.

    Sarah Jolly went close with a crisp volley on 17 minutes and a minute later, City took the lead, Emma Ridings turned her marker on the halfway line and on reaching the box lobbed the goalkeeper into the top right hand corner.

    Kempston were always dangerous and went close on the half hour while at the other end, Shirley Cole flicked on a free kick to Ridings only to see her shot saved by the keeper.

    The visitors continued to plug away and drew level in the 32nd minute with a low shot from the edge of the box finding the bottom corner of the City net.  Both teams had chances to have taken the lead before the break but both ‘keepers made good saves.

    It was Kempston who looked the stronger after the break and, following a couple of close chances, took the lead in the 56th Minute with a well placed shot giving Vanessa Smith, in the City goal, no chance.

    Not for the first time this season, Chelmsford’s self belief saw them dig deep and continued to work hard as a team.

    Their determination paid off an 60 minutes when Ridings saw her header from a floated corner, only partially cleared by the Kempston defence and Emma Wells reacted quickest to power the ball home.

    Both teams only managed to create half chances during the closing stages and with the game in stoppage time and extra time looming, City grabbed a dramatic winner.  Cole ran at the heart of the Kempston defence and beat one defender before being brought down on the edge of the box.

    She picked herself up and placed a superb shot with pinpoint accuracy over the wall and ‘keeper into the top far corner.

    The final whistle blow immediately as the kick off was taken which will see City in the draw for the next round.