Ladies progress in SSE Women's FA Cup

Woodley United Ladies deservedly progressed into the second qualifying round of SSE Women’s FA Cup with a solid team performance against Brentford Women, in what was the team’s first competitive match of the season.

With a much changed squad from last season with many of the Reserve players promoted into the first team, United was the dominant team from the off in a match delayed by fifteen minute due to the visitors being delayed in traffic.

The early chances fell to the hosts with Jess Grimmett heading wide from a Rosie Page-Smith free kick after ten minutes, Ellen Surtees having a shot unorthodoxly kicked clear by Brentford keeper Sarah Collins and Collins making a double save from Louise Thompson after twenty minutes. During this period Brentford created the one chance which bounced of stand in keeper Bonnie Messitt’s knees.

United opened the scoring on twenty six minutes when Kate Hardie played a short corner to Page- Smith who in turn returned the ball to Hardie to cross to the far post where Grimmett scored from within side the goal area.

The lead could have been doubled with the dangerous Page-Smith breaking free but only to be tackled as she prepared to shoot, Mollie Haines firing wide and Surtees shooting over the bar.

Surtees made amends two minutes after the restart when good play by Grimmett and Page-Smith saw the latter cross for Surtees to fire home unmarked in the penalty area.

Having extended the lead United proceeded to play with purpose keeping its shape and pressing their opponents all other the pitch making it difficult for Brentford to settle and have any sustained period of play. The closest the visitors came to scoring was nine minutes from time but Gemma Bloor cleared in a goal mouth scramble.

The win sees the team host Queens Park Rangers Development on 20th September 2015.