West Bergholt 3 Chelmsford City Reserves 1 (after extra time)
Sunday 26^th October 2008, Lorkin Daniel Field, Lexden Road, West Bergholt. Kick Off 1.30pm, Esex County Women's League Cup 1^st Round.

 

  A superb battling performance saw City Reserves take the unbeaten league leaders, who have already netted 30 goals in their five league fixtures, to extra time before eventually losing this cup match.

  West Bergholt, who field a number of ex-Colchester Utd and Ipswich Town players, forced City to defend for the opening period but a mixture of stout defending and squandered chances saw the game remain goalless.

  It was City who took an unexpected lead after 10 minutes when Elspeth Arkell’s well struck free kick bounced in front of the home keeper, bouncing over her head and into the net.

  City took the game to their opponents, forcing Bergholt to frantic defending with Grainne McLaughlin the chief tormentor. her non-stop running, in closing down every ball was a thorn in her opponents side with strikers Ashleigh Harding and Letitia Cleary working tirelessly alongside her.

  The second half saw Bergholt more organised and subjected McLaughlin to some harsh treatment which went unpunished and on 55 mins drew level, converting a cross from their left. Both sides created chances but were not converted which meant the game went into extra time.

  The greater experience showed as the home side netted two goals during the extended period to ensure they went through to the next round but City can hold their heads up high for the battling performance by the young side.

  Chelmsford City Reserves: Pearson, Arkell, Clarke, Brett, Threadgold, Magner, Barnard (Britton), McLaughlin, MacInnes (Evans), Harding and Cleary. Unused Sub: Millar. 

Goalscorer:  Elspeth Arkell

Referee: Jonathan Rishworth (Colchester)