Report

County Ladies exited the FA Women’s Cup at home to South Durham following a pulsating contest with plenty of incidents and talking points.

After having lost to a 90^th minute goal to the same opponents the previous week, County were quietly confident as the whistle blew to commence the contest, unfortunately it was the visitors who announced their intentions by scoring in the 2^nd minute, the ball falling to an unmarked player on the edge of the penalty area following a corner, her shot striking the under-side of the crossbar on its way into the net. A mere 6 minutes later, matters got progressively worse when County’s defence was caught napping again and a poor clearance fell straight to an opponent who took her opportunity with aplomb giving County a mountain to climb.

It has to be said, though, County dominated the rest of the half and the visitors only managed to break into County’s penalty area on less than a handful of occasions.  Sadly, apart from a penalty, duly converted by the lively Nikki Daniels, they went into the break trailing 2-1, this despite South Durham having a player shown the red card on 30 minutes for committing her 2^nd cautionable offence.

In the 2^nd half, whilst County enjoyed plenty possession, much of it was in their own half as County’s midfield struggled to find a quality ball through to either Beth Langford or the industrious Angela Ashioti to create a goal-scoring opportunity.  With 60 minutes on the clock, County were penalised for committing an infringement on the edge of their penalty area for allegedly shirt-pulling, and the resulting free-kick was struck low and, disappointingly, through the defensive wall, giving keeper Bowater little to no chance of preventing South Durham restoring their 2-goal advantage, although to her credit she did manage to get a hand to the ball.

In the 65^th minute, new-signing, 17-year old, Abigail Carrington came off the bench to make her debut, along with Cheryl Burns and Sarah Stones as County sought to ignite the spark of a dramatic comeback. Disappointingly, it was not to be, although County did manage to reduce the deficit through substitute Sarah Stones in the 80^th minute, but it was to be too little, too late and it is South Durham who progress through to the next round and a home tie with Bradford WFC.

Photos courtesy of Gary Gomersall

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