It was a day of firsts at Yarnton Road today. Of course, it was the Preliminary Round of the Women's FA Cup, which is enough of an attraction in itself. However, this would also be Kidlington's first competitive outing under their new guise of Kidlington FC, rather than Kidlington Youth. For those non-locals, let me explain (well, at least let me point out what I think the situation is). There are two teams in Kidlington, Kidlington FC and Kidlington Youth FC. They are completely separate teams, although Kidlington Youth Women have been playing at Kidlington FC's Yarnton Road stadium for the past season. On the 12th of June this year, the women's team became Kidlington FC, playing in the Southern Region Division One North, and Kidlington Youth's Dev. Women's team has become the club's main team, playing in the Thames Valley League Division 3 North. I'm sure someone will correct me if any of that is incorrect.
The firsts did not stop there, however. Kidlington were also playing their first competitive game in their sparkly new kit. They also had a player on their bench making her first appearance for the first team (more of that to come later). To add to all of that, opponents Salisbury FC were making their maiden appearance in the FA Cup. The Whites ply their trade in the Wiltshire Senior League Ladies Premier Division, a step below Kidlington, after earning promotion through a second place finish last season. This came on the back of a fourth place finish the season before, missing out by a point.
Nice to have a pre-match chat with Vinny Murphy and Duncan Eames. Thank you for sharing the teams sheets too.
The firsts did not stop there, however. Kidlington were also playing their first competitive game in their sparkly new kit. They also had a player on their bench making her first appearance for the first team (more of that to come later). To add to all of that, opponents Salisbury FC were making their maiden appearance in the FA Cup. The Whites ply their trade in the Wiltshire Senior League Ladies Premier Division, a step below Kidlington, after earning promotion through a second place finish last season. This came on the back of a fourth place finish the season before, missing out by a point.
Nice to have a pre-match chat with Vinny Murphy and Duncan Eames. Thank you for sharing the teams sheets too.
The start to the game could not have been any better for Kidlington. Two minutes into the contest, Courtney Sumner chased down a ball into the channel behind the Salisbury right-back before squaring for former Abingdon United Development captain Beth Hawtin to apply the final touch. 1-0
Kidlington continued to press forward and almost made it two after ten minutes when Amy Busby's corner was caught on the volley by Claire Chewings, who was unfortunate to see her effort clip the far post and bounce to safety. Four minutes later, however, it was two. Once more Courtney Sumner was the architect, bursting clear on the right side of the box, before drawing goalkeeper Holly Bethell off her line and then unselfishly squaring for Amy Busby to slot into an empty net. 2-0
Bethell was being kept busy in the Salisbury goal and had to be at her best to keep out Hawtin on 19 minutes. That save prompted a Salisbury break and led to Emily Murphy's first real involvement when she had to quickly adjust to pounce on Chloe Antonen's headed back pass.
Shortly after the restart, following the hydration break, Kidlington made it three, with Courtney Sumner switching from provider to scorer. Kidlington were awarded a free kick just inside the area after Bethell was forced to handle a back pass. The ball was touched to aside for Sumner, who smashed it low and hard past the keeper. Great strike. 3-0.
The Greens were now well in control and maybe they relaxed a little too much because, with two minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, Salisbury grabbed a goal back. Sam Deacon did the hard work, driving into the right side of the box before firing the ball across the face of goal to leave captain Ange Collins with a simple tap in at the far post. 3-1
Clearly conceding a goal stung Kidlington, and Salisbury's hopes of a comeback were banished when the Greens hit back within a minute through Beth Hawtin's second of the game. 4-1
HT Kidlington 4 Salisbury 1.
Kidlington continued to press forward and almost made it two after ten minutes when Amy Busby's corner was caught on the volley by Claire Chewings, who was unfortunate to see her effort clip the far post and bounce to safety. Four minutes later, however, it was two. Once more Courtney Sumner was the architect, bursting clear on the right side of the box, before drawing goalkeeper Holly Bethell off her line and then unselfishly squaring for Amy Busby to slot into an empty net. 2-0
Bethell was being kept busy in the Salisbury goal and had to be at her best to keep out Hawtin on 19 minutes. That save prompted a Salisbury break and led to Emily Murphy's first real involvement when she had to quickly adjust to pounce on Chloe Antonen's headed back pass.
Shortly after the restart, following the hydration break, Kidlington made it three, with Courtney Sumner switching from provider to scorer. Kidlington were awarded a free kick just inside the area after Bethell was forced to handle a back pass. The ball was touched to aside for Sumner, who smashed it low and hard past the keeper. Great strike. 3-0.
The Greens were now well in control and maybe they relaxed a little too much because, with two minutes of normal time remaining in the first half, Salisbury grabbed a goal back. Sam Deacon did the hard work, driving into the right side of the box before firing the ball across the face of goal to leave captain Ange Collins with a simple tap in at the far post. 3-1
Clearly conceding a goal stung Kidlington, and Salisbury's hopes of a comeback were banished when the Greens hit back within a minute through Beth Hawtin's second of the game. 4-1
HT Kidlington 4 Salisbury 1.
If the result was not already in the bag for Kidlington, it really should have been after just two minutes of the second half when the Greens engineered an attack up the right before feeding an unmarked Julia Rushmere some 8 yards out. Unfortunately, the striker put the shot well over the bar. A big let off for Salisbury. Nine minutes later, it looked as if Kidlington had completely left their shooting boots in the changing rooms at the break. The normally clinical Courtney Sumner was the next to squander a chance after good work from Ellie Owens up the right set up the Kidlington stalwart, only for her to also balloon the strike over Bethell's bar.
Just past the hour mark, however, the home side did add to their tally. Beth Hawtin was the provider, with a ball in form the eft that found Julia Rushmere, who made up for her earlier miss. 5-1
The Kidlington support, who had been calling for the introduction of youngster Eloise Beauchamp, finally got their wish midway through the second half as the Greens, with the game well and truly won, made a few changes.
The stage was set for a moment to remember for the 17 year-old, making her senior debut. With eight minutes remaining, Beauchamp received the ball in space on the right-hand edge of the box, drove into the area and unleashed a vicious strike that was way too hot for Bethell to keep out. 6-1
All that remained of the game was for Bethell, who had performed valiantly for the Whites under a lot of pressure, to make an excellent save after Abi Haynes miscued a cross that almost flew into the near post before the Salisbury stopper got across sharply to punch the ball clear.
FT Kidlington 6 Salisbury 1. A solid performance from Kidlington. The early goal settled them down and, aside from the well-worked goal from Salisbury, The Greens dominated the game. To their credit, Salisbury never let their heads go down and were still fighting right up to the final minute.
Kidlington's reward is a trip to French School Meadow to face fellow Division One North side, Penn & Tylers Green on September 6th. Salisbury now look forward to their first Premier League fixture when they make the trip to Calne Town on the same day.
Kidlington: Murphy, Antonen, Owen, Rodway, Clements, Chewings(c), Busby, J.Rushmere, Hwatin, Sumner. Subs: Haynes, Ward, Rushmere, Beauchamp
Salisbury: Bethell, West, Fogerty, Nash, PArr, Cummings, Webster, Collns(c), Deacon, Tompkins, Brazier. Subs: Buck-Smith, Hanson, Morgan, Pomroy, Palk
Just past the hour mark, however, the home side did add to their tally. Beth Hawtin was the provider, with a ball in form the eft that found Julia Rushmere, who made up for her earlier miss. 5-1
The Kidlington support, who had been calling for the introduction of youngster Eloise Beauchamp, finally got their wish midway through the second half as the Greens, with the game well and truly won, made a few changes.
The stage was set for a moment to remember for the 17 year-old, making her senior debut. With eight minutes remaining, Beauchamp received the ball in space on the right-hand edge of the box, drove into the area and unleashed a vicious strike that was way too hot for Bethell to keep out. 6-1
All that remained of the game was for Bethell, who had performed valiantly for the Whites under a lot of pressure, to make an excellent save after Abi Haynes miscued a cross that almost flew into the near post before the Salisbury stopper got across sharply to punch the ball clear.
FT Kidlington 6 Salisbury 1. A solid performance from Kidlington. The early goal settled them down and, aside from the well-worked goal from Salisbury, The Greens dominated the game. To their credit, Salisbury never let their heads go down and were still fighting right up to the final minute.
Kidlington's reward is a trip to French School Meadow to face fellow Division One North side, Penn & Tylers Green on September 6th. Salisbury now look forward to their first Premier League fixture when they make the trip to Calne Town on the same day.
Kidlington: Murphy, Antonen, Owen, Rodway, Clements, Chewings(c), Busby, J.Rushmere, Hwatin, Sumner. Subs: Haynes, Ward, Rushmere, Beauchamp
Salisbury: Bethell, West, Fogerty, Nash, PArr, Cummings, Webster, Collns(c), Deacon, Tompkins, Brazier. Subs: Buck-Smith, Hanson, Morgan, Pomroy, Palk
Courtney Sumner strikes...
and scores.
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