London Bees (6) – QPR FC Women (3) – Rangers Bow Out after Extra Time
Today at 09:30 AM
Adobe Women's FA Cup 3rd Round
Team: Melling, Cooper, Lewin, Brooks, Blodgett, Searle, D'Santos, Goddard, Stanley, Ward-Chambers, Dzyadyk
The home side took the lead around 90 seconds into the game, after the R's had lost possession to Megan Burrows. This resulted in Millie Isherwood's shot coming off the Rangers keeper before entering the net.
However, the R's equalised just three minutes later. Good work by Grace Stanley in the box then set-up Courtnay Ward-Chambers to finish.
Rangers took the lead on eight minutes when Ashleigh Goddard headed the ball home at the back-post from a corner.
Chances continued to be created at both ends. For the home side, a free header flashed just wide of the target. Whilst for the R's, Courtnay Ward-Chambers’ free kick ended up getting blocked.
Grace Stanley put Jo Blodgett through on goal, who then fired the ball at the keeper.
Jo Blodgett was booked for seemingly tapping the ball away.
After Courtnay Ward-Chambers’ powerful angled strike had gone behind, from the resulting corner, the same player forced a point-blank save from the Bees keeper.
Rangers went down to ten after Jo Blodgett received a second yellow card just before the break. There was no let-up with the rain, and at half-time it remained 2-1 to the R's.
Into the second-half, and Nicole Melling made an outstanding save when she dived backwards to tip over Rebekah Wozniak's audacious long strike at goal.
On 65 minutes, Stevie Kennedy came on for Annie Dzyadyk.
The home side went close to an equaliser shortly after when an unmarked Bees player tapped the ball on to the upright.
Courtnay Ward-Chambers was booked for what was considered to be a heavy challenge on an opponent.
Grace Stanley was clearly fouled on the corner of the box, the lino even flagged for it, but the referee wasn't interested!
Mira Hoteit's shot from 20-odd yards bounced off the crossbar and 90 seconds later another effort came off the bar.
On 76 minutes, Danny Harrigan brought on Izzy Owen at the expense of Ashleigh Goddard.
The Bees equaliser arrived eight minutes from time, following a ball in from the right that appeared to come off Millie Isherwood's knee. Full-Time: 2-2.
Into extra time and it was Hailey Hoare who forced a good save from Nicole Melling.
But it was Grace Stanley who put the R's in front, rolling the ball into the net after getting on the end of a long pass.
The hosts equalised again when Millie Isherwood completed her hat-trick, when she knocked in Hailey Hoare's cross.
The Bees went 4-3 up on 104 minutes, courtesy of Lily Whitelock.
Millie Isherwood got her fourth of the afternoon, and the scoring was completed when Hailey Hoare's free kick flew into the top-corner.
I have to say that the referee was appalling and, reduced to ten for the majority of the game, the Rangers players continued to battle on to the final whistle.
Next up for the R's was a home league game against AFC Sudbury.
Steve Russell
