Sunday 27th January 2008 at the Kiln Park, Raunds Town FC
Match Report: Raunds Town Ladies 0 - 17 Rushden & Diamonds Ladies
(Northants Women's Cup Quarter Final)
Diamonds Ladies eased through to the semi-finals of the County Cup with a comfortable victory over Raunds Town Ladies at Kiln Park. The gulf between the two sides was evident but all credit to the Shopmates as they continued to contest the tie until the final whistle. Raunds play some three Leagues below Diamonds in the Womens County Northants FA Division 1 and Vicky Gallagher (4), Charly Wright (3), Ashley Palmer (3), Caroline Moran (2), Anna McLeod (2), Aileen Whelan and Molly Marsh all got on the score sheet.
Diamonds came close after just 16 seconds, when Vicky Gallagher tried to lob the ball over the keeper from a tight angle and after a couple of close efforts, they went ahead on 5 minutes. Fay Howell took the ball forward on the left side and passed inside to Ashley Palmer who shot past the keeper. Within two minutes, they got a second from a free-kick after Charly Wright had been tripped just outside the penalty area. Caroline Moran sent the ball past the wall and to the left of the keeper for Diamonds second.
With the Diamonds defence able to cope easily with any break out by the home side, the game was being played almost entirely in the Raunds half. Diamonds got their third on 16 minutes after Raunds were unable to clear the ball away, with Vicky Gallagher slotting the loose ball home. From the restart, the ball came straight back to Vicky Gallagher who volleyed past the keeper from the edge of the area.
Three goals in quick succession saw Diamonds seven up after half an hour. First, Molly Marsh fired a fierce shot from the right side of the area, Charly Wright's run down the left for a Raunds defender to knock past her own keeper, and then Charly Wright nodded in after a good run by Moran.
After Anna McLeod was fouled on the edge of the area on 34 minutes, Gallagher's free-kick struck the underside of the bar and bounced out, but Ashley Palmer was on hand to nod the ball past the keeper from close range. Moments later, Gallagher again took the ball through the defence and crossed for Charly Wright to side foot home.
Crosses from left and right saw the home side struggle to cope with full backs Fay Howell and Molly Marsh coming forward at every opportunity. Two more goals followed before the half time whistle, both following crosses fro Anna McLeod. Ashley Palmer headed home a cross from the right, then Aileen Whelan side-footed in a cross from the left at the far post.
Half time: Raunds Town Ladies 0 - 11 Rushden & Diamonds Ladies
Just prior to the first half whistle, Diamonds had made three substitutions, with Amy O'Brien, Katie Loydall and Priya Nataly replacing Kirsty Cooper, Ashley Palmer and Aileen Whelan. The changes seemed to unsettle Diamonds at first as Raunds tried to get into the game. They ventured further forward than they had in the first half, but still posed little problems for the Diamonds defenders and Charlene Ward had a relatively quiet afternoon. It wasn't until the 61st minute that Diamonds increased their lead - Fay Howell crossed from the left for Vicky Gallagher to head home.
Raunds had difficulty dealing with Howell's accurate crossing and on 65 minutes, another ball from the left saw Wright's header blocked on the line, only for Caroline Moran to pass the ball into the back of the net. Two more crosses resulted in goals fourteen and fifteen, Marsh crossing from the right for Charly Wright to head home on 76 minutes, and McLeod's cross to Vicky Gallagher allowing the Diamonds player manager to slot the ball home from 6 yards.
Raunds had their best chance on 79 minutes, when a surge forward saw several players in the Diamonds penalty area, but Ward managed to get a touch on the ball to give the home side their first corner. But Diamonds continued to go forward with Priya Natatly going close, her shot being blocked on the line. Anna McLeod finished the game off with two goals in the final five minutes. Yet another great cross from Howell saw Gallagher's shot blocked, McLeod stabbing the ball home from close range, then the Diamonds midfielder firing home a Moran pass into the corner of the goal.
Full time: Raunds Town Ladies 0 - 17 Rushden & Diamonds Ladies
So Diamonds are through to the semi-final draw together with Stewarts & Lloyds, AFC Trinity and of course Northampton Town with the draw expected to be made on Monday. Next week, Diamonds take another week off League action when they visit AFC Wimbledon in Round Two of the South East Combination League Cup at Kingsmeadow as they bid to reach another semi-final. Wimbledon's poor form ended today with their first League win of the season, so Diamonds can expect a tougher game than they experienced in the Combination earlier in the season.
Team:
Rushden & Diamonds Ladies: Charlene Ward, Molly Marsh, Fay Howell, Kirsty Cooper (Amy O'Brien 43), Leanna Doyle, Caroline Moran, Anna McLeod, Charly Wright, Aileen Whelan (Katie Loydall 43), Ashley Palmer (Priya Nataly 43), Vicky Gallagher.
Subs not used: Nil.
Goals: Ashley Palmer 5 (0-1), Caroline Moran 7 (0-2), Vicky Gallagher 16 (0-3), Vicky Gallagher 17 (0-4), Molly Marsh 23 (0-5), og 25 (0-6), Charly Wright 27 (0-7), Ashley Palmer 34 (0-8), Charly Wright 36 (0-9), Ashley Palmer 39 (0-10), Aileen Whelan 41 (0-11), Vicky Gallagher 61 (0-12), Carline Moran 65 (0-13), Charly Wright 76 (0-14), Vicky Gallagher 78 (0-15), Anna McLeod 85 (0-16), Anna McLeod 86 (0-17).
Referee: Mr P.Honeyman
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Other results (Northants FA Women's Cup)
Kettering Town 0 Northampton Town 5
Kingsthorpe 1 AFC Trinity 2
Rothwell Town 1 Stewarts & Lloyds 8
Other results (SE Combination):
AFC Wimbledon 3 Cambridge City 2
Enfield 0 Whitehawk 0
Forthcoming fixtures:
3 Feb AFC Wimbledon (Away) SEC/LC2
10 Feb Gillingham (Away) SEC
17 Feb TBC (CCSF)
24 Feb Whitehawk (Away) SEC
Reserve Team fixture:
Midland Combination Reserves
Wolves v Rushden & Diamonds Ladies postponed
