Tonbridge Angels Women 0 South London Women 4

Match 19/24/2258 - Sunday, 1st September 2024 - Women's FA Cup 1QR

Tonbridge Angels Women (0) 0
South London Women (2) 4 Shields 11,65
Attendance: 107
Admission: £5
Mileage: 38/874

Tonbridge Angels Women’s first flirtation with the WFA Cup sadly ended with a 4-0 defeat at the hands of an accomplished South London Women.

Both teams, having achieved similar promotions last season, were making their debuts in the prestigious competition.

On a hot afternoon that necessitated water breaks in each half, a crowd of 107 assembled including a noisy contingent following the visitors.

South London opened the game with intent and the Angels goalkeeper, Ashleigh Rhodes was called into action twice in the first eight minutes before conceding a goal when a clearance came back off Virginia Somers to loop over the stranded goalkeeper’s head.

The goal rattled the Angels and another poor clearance gave Johanna Andersson the opportunity to strike but her shot hit a post.

Slowly the home side found a footing in the game with Hope Mumford sending a shot wide and a free kick over and, on 21 minutes, a free kick from Lucy Harrington dipped onto the roof of the net.

But, the best chance of the half for the Angels, came when Amelia Cooper was sent clear, but her shot not carrying enough power, was cleared from the line.

The first water break perhaps came at the wrong time for the Angels as following the break, it was South London that regained the momentum.

This eventually brought a reward for the visitors as, six minutes before the break, Rhodes saved at the feet of Somers but the rebound fell invitingly at the feet of Andersson who calmly stroked the ball into the unguarded goal.

Any hopes of a second half comeback from the Angels virtually disappeared three minutes into the half when the ball fell to Robyn Blanchard who volleyed into the top corner from 20 yards.

Six minutes later, another sumptuous effort from distance, this time from Rachel Todd gave Rhodes no chance.

Credit should be given to the Angels who never gave up the fight and deserved a consolation goal but efforts from Hermione Dorset and Aimee Churchill were denied by goalkeeper Nailah Cave.

Angels’ manager Joe Rowe reflected after the match: “Credit to South London, on balance they deserved their victory, maybe the scoreline doesn’t reflect the quality of the two teams. The quality is a lot closer, I think the difference today was that they were switched on throughout the game, they brought their A game whereas in key moments we switched off.”