My second game of the weekend and another short bus ride which took me to Stag Meadow, home of Windsor & Eton, for their Women’s FA Cup First Round Qualifying tie with Andover New Street. The hosts were drawn at home to higher league opposition with Windsor playing in TVCWFL Division One for the first time this season following topping the Division Two table last season, while Andover are looking forward to a second season in SRWFL Division One South after a successful third place finish in 25/26.
There was a good crowd in with New Street bringing a decent following, and considering the lack of rain this summer the pitch looked in superb condition as the teams came out for this cup tie.
The visitors came out of blocks quickly, moving the ball around nicely early on, controlling possession and pushing the hosts back. They were soon celebrating, a good cross from the right into a dangerous area was pushed away by Lisa Phillips under a strong challenge from Summer Williams only for Aimee Davis to pick up the loose ball and stroke the ball into the empty net. 0-1
From a repelled Windsor attack Brooke Casey-Batley picked up an injury and couldn’t continue, being replaced by Becca Screech which forced the visitors into a slight reshuffle in formation.
The change didn’t seem to hinder Andover as they continued to push forward; Davis found Screech on the edge of the area where she was bundled over. From the quickly taken free kick Kyla Hayes tried her luck from distance but Phillips was able to shepherd it past the far post.
Windsor tried to press to shut down the time Street had on the ball, Ruby Harris made a couple of timely interceptions on the right as they struggled to gain a foothold in the game.
A nice piece of skill from Davis found Andover captain Keira Smith on the edge of the area, a great first touch and turn gave her space to shoot but her effort drifted past the far post.
Windsor’s first real chance came after Ida Manneh took the ball around two players in midfield and threaded a pass through to Sophie Cheadle. She knocked it around the retreating defender and shot early from the edge of the box but just wide of the post.
Andover came straight back and doubled their lead soon after. A great run and cross from Screech down the right was met perfectly by Williams in the middle and her header gave Phillips no chance. 0-2
Manneh and Harris were breaking well down the right flank but neither could find a cross to trouble the visitors defence. Manneh did have a couple of half chances late on in the half, one from a lovely diagonal pass by Leah Martin, but both shots were sent wide of the target.
A dominant first half from Andover ended with them two goals to the good and in total control of the game.
H-T: Windsor & Eton 0 Andover New Street 2
Windsor made some changes during the break, pushing Harris into a more advanced position on the right, bringing on Catherine McElroy and giving Violet Sculley licence to push forward.
The second half started much as the first had finished but then the home side suddenly roared into action. Manneh found space and ran to the byline before crossing the ball into the middle. McElroy challenged keeper Cherie Connolly before she could gather and Sculley was on hand to blast the loose ball into the net. 1-2 and game on.
Andover were struggling to contain the pace Windsor now faced running at them and soon after the scores were level. Sculley won the ball in midfield and passed it out wide for Harris to run on to. A great first touch from Harris gave her space and time to run into the area where she picked her spot and launched a rocket into the roof of the net. 2-2
The turnaround was amazing as now Windsor on top and looking favourites to get the next goal. A McElroy cross was blocked on the edge of the area with the ball falling to Manneh, she tried a first time shot that took a heavy deflection which Connolly gratefully gathered.
It was end to end action now and Andover’s Smith came so close to restoring the visitors lead. She spun away from her marker before trying a lob from 30 yards out which looked to be going over the head of Phillips but she managed to backpedal quickly and brilliantly turned the ball over from just under the crossbar.
At the other end Andover were caught playing out from the back by Windsor’s pressing game. Connolly losing possession outside the area and desperately ran back into the box as Manneh picked up the loose ball and shot. The keeper able to breathe a sigh of relief as she watched the ball drift wide of the target.
Phillips was again called into action as Smith made another good run into the box with the keeper diving bravely at the feet of the Andover captain and gathered the ball.
Another piece of fine battling down the left from McElroy gave Sculley a half chance but Connolly was also out quickly to ward off the danger.
There was one final twist in this game and it came from the visitors. A nice ball from Izzy Hawkins released Screech down the right, she just kept on running, into the box and then shot across Phillips from a tight angle with the ball ending up in the net just inside the far post. 2-3
This seemed to knock the wind out of Windsor and restore the confidence in their opponents with Andover able to control the game and they did enough to see the game out during a tense last ten minutes.
F-T: Windsor & Eton 2 Andover New Street 3
A cracking game and a shame one had to lose. Windsor gave it everything after making the formation changes at half time and gave their opponents a real fright after the break. For the hosts Catherine McElroy works her socks off and played a big part in the comeback along with Violet Scully. Ruby Harris looks a quality player both at right back and further forward and also a word for Hannah Hester at the back who made several important headers and interceptions. Plenty to build on going forward and, if they play like they did in the second half, they will cause a lot of headaches for the teams in their league this season.
Andover look a good side and play some nice football. Izzy Hawkins looks a talented player, every move seems to go through her, she’s skilful, often picking up the ball from the back and driving the team forward. Summer Williams looks a strong forward who took her goal very well and Aimee Davis was involved in everything good going forward especially in the first half.
It’s always a pleasure to visit Stag Meadow and catch up with some of the great people at the club as well as touching base with some new ones.
This definitely won’t be the last time I’ll be seeing both sides this season and I wish them both all the very best of luck in their leagues in 26/27 and to Andover New Street in the next round against Sholing.
