11th December 2023
Report by Grace Gunn.
Cheltenham Town Ladies bow out of the FA Cup after suffering a 4-0 defeat to Championship side Reading in the third round.
Visitors Reading converted the first inside nine minutes after Deanna Cooper rose above all to head the in-swinging corner into the back of the net.
The Robinesses looked to almost immediately reply as Phoebie Poole rattled the cross bar, but the Royals doubled their lead soon after following a quick break, slipping the ball into Lauren Wade who converted.
A quickfire double from Charlie Wellings just minutes into the second half saw Tom Davies’ side exit the FA Cup despite their best efforts.
First Half
The Robinesses started strong as Poole went close just three minutes in as the number nine took aim from the edge of the area, but Emily Orman was there to prevent an early goal.
Poole was proving to be a threat once again as she broke through, finding the feet of striking counterpart Una Lue, but the forward was caught just offside.
Despite the early positive signs from Davies’ side, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock after Cooper headed in their set piece.
The Robinesses fought straight back as Poole looked to find the equaliser just moments later, but her effort cannoned off the cross bar, coming achingly close to a leveller.
However, Reading broke rapidly and netted their second as Wellings slotted it through into Lauren Wade, who buried her shot.
Cheltenham headed in 2-0 down at the break but had glimmers of hope after moments of positive play.
Second Half
Reading came firing out of the blocks as they broke through, but keeper Aimee Watson produced a great save however the effort rebounded into the feet of Wellings, slotting it into the net.
Wellings soon had her second of the match after striking a low driven shot from range, but the Robinesses didn’t give up as Emily Allen looked to burst down the left, winning a free kick after being brought down.
On the hour mark Davies looked to make an attacking change which saw the welcomed return of Henna Butcher.
Butcher wasted no time in getting involved as she tried her luck from range, but the effort couldn’t find the back of the net.
Reading looked to add a fifth to their tally after winning a penalty, but Watson made a great save, preventing the spot kick conversion.
The Robinesses began to have an attacking spell in the game as Butcher drove forward, steaming past the defence but was brought down, winning a free kick.
Substitute Daisy Ackerman took aim from the set piece, but Orman made a comfortable save, retaining her clean sheet.
Despite their persistent resilience, Cheltenham Town were defeated by Championship side Reading and exit the third round of the FA Cup.
Cheltenham: Watson, Owen, Llewellyn, Jones, Buxton, Allen (Ackerman 68’), Pemberton (Collis 68’), Davies (Lewis 68’), Taylor, Lue (Butcher 58’) Poole (Billingham 24’)
Attendance: 291
