Unlucky for some: Chairgirls secure a spot in Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a 13-1 home domination!
Sundays don’t come much better than this past one for the Chairgirls, as they executed a flawless 13-1 win over visitors Milton United, to progress into the next round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
An action packed first half saw the Blues set up a stunning 9-1 lead going into the break, with the magic player of the match, Kayla Potter, netting five and assisting two. Emani Kassem also bagged a brace in the opening 45, as Jess Watkins and Latifa Mammeri each added one to the tally.
Although slightly less goal-filled than the opening half, the final 45 saw Watkins, Ellen Wardlaw, and Sophia Attfield all net one early into the half, before a late own goal from the Milton defence claimed the Chairgirls’ 13th of the game.
The Wanderers were quick off the mark to get an early advantage in an important FA Cup qualifying round, with Potter opening the scoreline in only the sixth minute. Her first of five was propelled by her own strength as she took on her marker in a battle for possession of the ball, which was assisted by Blues goalkeeper, Amber Taylor, allowing for her to make a break at goal. A couple touches was all she needed before she sliced it beyond the Milton keeper, who got a hand to it, and established the hosts’ lead.
A stunning second was netted by Kassem shortly after Potted gained the first, in the 18th minute. Using her speed and strength down the middle, she powered past the Milton backline to send a right-footed shot through and double the Wanderers’ lead.
Both Potter and Kassem bagged their braces in short succession of one another with, still fresh to the team, Potter, claiming hers first in the 21st minute. Assisted by a Milanna Cadore throw on from the left flank, Potter carried the ball effortlessly past the Milton bodies in defence, before chipping it through the legs of the visitor’s keeper, and into the far corner.
Only a minute later, Kassem made it four in 22 minutes, as she made light work of a corner delivered by Danielle Puddefoot, flicked off the head of Cadore, and headed straight home to quadruple the Chairgirls’ advantage.
The visitors did claim one back from the hosts, denying the opportunity for a clean sheet. A well-delivered looping shot was sent past Taylor between the sticks, making it 4-1 in the 28th minute.
A fast retaliation however saw Potter work her magic again with two quick-fire goals in the 32nd and 33rdminutes. Her third, and the Blues’ fifth, of the game came from play built up by herself, as her cross into the box to allow for Watkins to take a shot, rattled off the woodwork and back into her path, where she directed it neatly into the bottom left corner. Fiending for more, she sent home the sixth of the match as she found herself on the end of a Kassem squared ball inside the box, to tuck it away in the bottom left corner again.
Watkins secured her first of two in the 36th minute, as she was perfectly positioned in front of an open goal when she received the cross through from Potter to make it 7-1.
Latifa Mammeri clinched her first of the season in a rapid turnaround from the Chairgirls’ seventh goal, as she reworked from her own close range shot which bounced back off the post, to toe it in with power, making it 8-1 in 38 minutes.
Potter sent home her fifth and final of the game late into the half with a hurling header off the back of a magnificent assist from Puddefoot, securing a 9-1 lead going into the break.
A swinging start to the second half saw the Chairgirls claim their next three within 10 minutes of returning from the break. Watkins netted her second of the game with a stunning shot, after her beautiful footwork down the right wing allowed her to dance past her marker and carry the ball into the box. Her right-footed hit made it 10-1 in the 49th minute.
Wardlaw struck home the 11th of the game as she made a fantastic run down the middle from the defensive half. Although her initial attempt was taken of its course by the Milton keeper who came off her line, Wardlaw’s second attempt hit the target and slotted into the near post.
The 12th for the Chairgirls came from a wonderful run down the right wing from Attfield, who carried the ball away from the three Milton bodies behind her. Her strike slid past visitor’s keeper, growing the Blues’ impressive advantage in the 56th minute.
An unlucky 13th goal for the visitors, as one of their own defenders attempted clearance rolled into the back of their own net, finalising the 13-1 scoreline.
Manager, Carl Simon reflected on his side’s fantastic performance, stating, “A great game, start to finish.
“Some of the football we played was exceptional. It’s easy to take opposition lightly, but we spoke about that before the game and made sure we gave them the respect that they deserve, respected the game, especially with the magnitude of the game – it’s the FA Cup.
“We didn’t try and overplay and that worked a treat, the goals started to flow really well.”
The Chairgirls’ dominating win secured their spot in the draw for the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup, which will be announced early this week.
They now set their sights on returning back to league action, as they head down south to Sholing in attempt to make it two wins on the bounce.
