By Myles Hocknell
Nantwich Town FC Women booked their place in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Hednesford Town at Keys Park Stadium, and will now face MK Dons away.
The Dabbers got the game underway and created the first opening of the afternoon when Meg Ragdale delivered a dangerous cross into the box. Amanda Fallon won the ball but was unable to get it under control before the Hednesford defence recovered.
The first half proved to be an evenly contested affair, with both sides battling for control without being able to find the breakthrough.
Connie Watts was called into action when Hednesford’s number nine found herself one-on-one with the Nantwich goalkeeper. Watts did enough to put the forward off, with the resulting effort going wide.
Nantwich came closest to opening the scoring late in the half. On 39 minutes, Meg Andrews put the Hednesford goalkeeper under pressure as she closed her down. The resulting clearance struck Andrews, allowing her to get a shot away, but a Hednesford defender was on hand to clear. Fallon then had an effort of her own, only for the hosts to block again and keep the game goalless.
The Dabbers continued to threaten, with Fallon being threaded through by a pass from the Nantwich defence. She attempted to find Andrews with a cross, but once again the Hednesford defence managed to clear.
Neither side could break the deadlock before the interval.
Hednesford started the second half strongly, and the hosts came close to breaking the deadlock just three minutes after the restart when an effort struck the crossbar.
Nantwich responded with a promising opportunity of their own. Tegan Ansell played an excellent ball through to Fallon, who managed to get a touch but was unable to get beyond the Hednesford defender, who shielded the ball out of play.
The Dabbers continued to link up well as the half progressed, with the team beginning to find more opportunities in the final third.
With 16 minutes remaining, Ansell came close to finally breaking the deadlock. A ball found her just inside the box, but her effort was straight at the Hednesford goalkeeper.
As the game entered added time, neither side was able to find the decisive goal. Five minutes were added, but there was still nothing to separate the teams. Penalties would decide who progressed to the First Round Proper.
Fallon stepped up first for Nantwich and confidently converted. Hednesford responded by scoring their opening penalty.
Poppy Emery was next for the Dabbers and found the net. Watts got a hand to Hednesford’s next spot-kick; despite the touch, the ball still found the back of the net.
Lacey Martin then calmly converted her penalty, with Hednesford matching her once again.
Katie Greenwood stepped up and scored. Then Watts produced a huge moment, saving Hednesford’s next penalty to give Nantwich the advantage.
Abi Poulton had the opportunity to seal the tie and she delivered by scoring the winning penalty.
Manager, Dan Mellor, had this to say:
“Another gritty performance away from home, another display of the character and togetherness this group possesses.
Defensively, we were outstanding once again. We kept another clean sheet, stood up to everything Hednesford threw at us and, for large spells of the second half, were the team in control. We just lacked that final ruthless touch to win it in normal time.
But when it came down to penalties, there was never any doubt about the mentality of this group. 2 teenagers stepping up and volunteering in such circumstances speaks volumes plus Lacey stepping up after being out injured for so long shows what this team is all about.
Into the First Round Proper once again and we deserve it, let’s hope for a home draw!
These players continue to write their own history and I couldn’t be prouder of every single one of them.”
The GOAT Player of the Match was awarded to Katie Naylor for her excellent defensive display and keeping the Hednesford attackers out of the game. Katie received a £50 voucher from our friends at GOAT Nantwich.
Mellor didn’t get his wish as the Dabbers were handed another away tie, this time at MK Dons, who play 1 tier above Nantwich. The tie will take place on Sunday 25th October, and is an exact copy of the Dabbers men’s first ever First Round tie in 2011.
Starting 11: Connie Watts, Sasha Johnson, Mollie Newton, Sam Cawley, Katie Naylor, Katie Greenwood, Meg Andrews, Meg Ragdale (C), Amanda Fallon, Tegan Ansell, Charlotte Crees.
Substitutes: Abi Poulton, Alicia Hatton, Lacey Martin, Poppy Emery, Amber Mayer, Phoebe Carter.
Nantwich Town FC Women’s next fixture is away against Darwen next Sunday (11th October). The Dabbers return to the Swansway Stadium the following Sunday (18th October) where they face top of the table Bolton Wanderers.