Birmingham County FA – Challenge Vase Quarter Final
Sunday 17th December 2023
Squad: Leah. Katie (Captain), Amber, Robyn, Kelsey, Kelly, Caitlin, Nicole, Amy, Kirsty, Grace
Substitutes: Ellie, Ava, Laura B, Millie D, Milie G
Sponsor: Melbros, Jamesway Travel, Keller, ASG Precision, Gripper Differentials and LH Services Ltd
First Half
Rugby Town Women hosted Coventry City Women at Butlin Road today in what was expected to be a highly competitive game. Both teams are in the same position and same points in their respective leagues (Rugby D1S and Coventry D1N).
Coventry win 2 early corners within the first 5 minutes of the game. The first punched clear by Leah and the second collected by Leah.
Rugby push, which heralds a frantic opening 20 minutes with both teams working hard and trying to gain the small advantages to open up play.
Kelsey and Kelly work well together and generate an opportunity, Kelly’s strike saved by the Coventry keeper.
Rugby had a number of other opportunities in this period including a corner by Nicole, a long range strike by Katie, a free kick by Nicole right by the corner flag and a free kick by Amy. The final touch was proving elusive though and the scoreline remained 0-0
Caitlin, Amy and Kirsty were having some great battles in midfield support behind by the defensive wall of Grace, Amber, Robyn and Katie who were ready to commit to protecting Leah;s goal. Kelsey and Nicole were clocking up the KMs up front, with great energy.
Just after the 20 minute mark and Nicole and Kelsey engineered a great changes, Kelsey was on target but did get as much power on the shot as she would have liked and the Coventry keeper dealt with the shot well.
Rugby kept up the pressure and shortly afterwards Kelly and Nicole linked up, with a lovely ball in from the left from Kelly, finding Nicole, who opened the scoreline with calm efficiency.
28’ Rugby Town 1 – 0 Coventry City
33’ Amy <-> Ava
Coventry win a corner but Rugby defend well to clear, Coventry reman determined and continue to pressure the Rugby defence, with their persistence paying off.
38’ Rugby Town 1 – 1 Coventry City
The first half continues and both sides win a number of free kicks. Rugby press again and again, Nicole and Kelsey play some nice football to allow another shot on target by Kelsey, again stopped by the opposition keeper.
45’ Kesley <-> Millie G
Milile G, Kelly and Nicole again work to create some nice play and a good opportunity for the hosts but the ball was cleared by an alert Coventry defence.
Second Half
Again, the second half proved reasonably even with Rugby trying to play and find space and gaps around the pitch while Coventry preferred the more direct, long ball approach.
9 minutes into the second half and Rugby win a free kick in a useful position, Nicole takes the kick and beats the wall, but not the bar, as the ball sails over.
The midfield is still where most of the action is seen, Grace breaks and get a good ball away, on target but managed by the keeper.
Nicole and Kelly once again press, with Kelly’s shot from a tight angle powers into the side netting of the Coventry goal.
60’ Millie G <-> Amy
Rugby are having a good period and Grace again makes a break, with good speed she finds the space she needs but her powerful shot is missing the accuracy it needs and is over the crossbar.
Both sides with a couple of free kicks and corners apiece, both goalkeepers and defenders do well and the score remains level.
67’ Ava is cautioned for a bit of a clumsy late tackle.
Coventry win another free kick very close to the edge of Rugby’s box. Leah punches the shot clear but it falls to a waiting attacked who blasts the ball into the Rugby net. Rugby are fist despondent until the referee jogs over to have a chat with the linesman. The goal is disallowed for offside, and the score remains 1-1
73’ Kirsty <-> Ellie
The theme of free kicks and corners continues, most notably a useful corner from Coventry on 75 minutes which Leah does well to punch clear.
There is still nothing to separate the too sides, as time runs down, and no extra time is played in cup games, the questions are being raised about looming penalties.
79’ Ava <-> Kelsey
Katie has a jaunt at pace up the wing from defence and has a great solo effort, resulting in a shot on gaol which unfortunately ends up in the side of the net.
Rugby are still looking for their second goal, with Ellie, Kelsey and Grace combining the play to allow Grace a shot on target, again stopped by the Coventry keeper. Coventry counter very quickly and their very good attack is only brought to a stop by Leah.
Back up the other end and Nicole again is causing problems, and again the Coventry keeper keeps the scores level by pushing the ball out for a corner.
Grace takes the corner, the keeper clears the first ball, Amy gets a second bite of the cherry but shoots wide.
41’ Nicole and Kelsey work well again to create the opportunity for Kelsey to shoot, and this time she is on target. The players on the pitch and in the dugout as well as the coaches are ecstatic. However, their joy turns to disappointment, as again, after a discussion with the linesman, the Rugby goal is disallowed for offside. This proved to be pretty much the last main action of the half as neither team can add to the scoresheet in the final minutes and we head to penalty purgatory.
Penalties
1 – Both Rugby and Coventry miss
2 – Rugby miss and Coventry score
3 – Both Rugby and Coventry score
4 – Both Rugby and Coventry score
5 – Rugby miss and Coventry score
Summary
Disappointing to exit the Vase on penalties, always a tough way to lose a game. The team should be hugely proud of their performance in this game, and indeed the earlier rounds.
A big thank you to Coventry City for a great game. It was a pleasure to host them at Butlin Road. We wish them the best of luck in the Semi Finals.
Rugby Town 1 – 1 Coventry City
Scorer Nicole: Assist Kelly
Penalties Rugby Town 2 – 3 Coventry City
Scorers: Caitlin and Grace
Rugby Town Women are back in league action in January as they travel to Bewdley on 7th.
Thank you to Referee Chris, Linesman James and for all the support at Butlin Road today. The team appreciates it.
