Late Goals Sets Up Trip To Harlow Town

After an even start, it was the visitors who mounted the first meaningful attack with a long ball over the home defence, which Bell in the Wroxham goal had to be alert to clear the danger, then an attack down the right flank produced a dangerous attack, forcing Bell to punch clear.

The hosts early on were relying on counter attacks and a long crossfield ball by Cooper to Holloway put the Wroxham wide player clear down the right flank whose cross flash across the face of the goal and out for a goal-kick.

Most of the attacks were coming from Wymondham and Bell was forced to save at the near post with her legs, before finally one the attacks bore fruit for the visitors. The ball played through the centre and slotted past Bell to give Wymondham the lead on 15 minutes.

Two minutes later, Wroxham had a half chance to level the scores after Rowland had been fouled, but Birchall was just unable to get on to the end of the free-kick at the far post, who then had an effort saved by the away keeper.

Wymondham were enjoying the lion’s share of possession and a dangerous low cross was missed by everyone, before a quick break from a Wroxham attack saw the visitors shoot just over the home crossbar.

The hosts had their best spell of the game so far just before the break, with Birchall seeing a shot saved by the keeper at her near post and from the corner, headed clear Wroxham shot just past the post.

In the final action of the half, Bullard had a shot saved after a good passing move allowed Holloway to send in a cross to the far post, but it was the visitors who went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.

Birchall had the first attempt on goal in the second half, but saw her shot blocked by the away defence, however, in Wymondham’s first real attack of the half, they doubled their lead. A long ball down the left saw Bell rush out to clear, but was beaten to the ball and the ensuing cross was slotted home to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

The hosts who were now chasing the game, made two substitution with Leach replacing Bullard and 5 minutes later Pleavin took the place of Pasque. Leach was straight into the action threading a ball past the away defence to Birchall who shot just wide, then saw her own shot pushed around the post for a corner which was comfortably cleared.

In the final 15 minutes, Wroxham finally started to apply pressure on the visitors. A long ball to Birchall was played inside to Cooper who fired over the bar, before with 9 minutes remaining, they reduced the deficit. Holloway was put clear down the right, who beat her marker and sent in a low cross which was steered past the keeper at the near post.

Two minutes later the scores were level. An effort was blocked and Bygrave rifled the loose ball into the corner of the goal from 25 yards to set up a tense finish to the game.

Buoyed by the 2 quick goals, Wroxham pushed forward and with 4 minutes remaining were awarded a penalty, after the referee adjudged that Birchall had been fouled in the area. Rowland under pressure fired the ball into the top corner to give the hosts the lead for the first time and they played out the remaining minutes for a 3-2 victory and a game away to Harlow Town in the next round.

Wroxham Women: A Bell, A Larkins, N Cooper, K Pasque, G Parker, C Shields, K Holloway, B Bygrave, L Bullard, A Rowland, G Birchall. Subs used: E Leach, V Pleavin. Unused: O Mungham-Gray, L Bailey, B Scully.