Ladies progress into BBFA Senior Women's Cup semi-final

Woodley United Ladies advanced into the semi-finals of the Berks & Bucks FA Women’s Senior cup with a 3-0 win at home to Wycombe Wanderers.

The pleasing aspect of the win was the patience shown by the team in both waiting for chances to score and not panicking when having to defend.

Playing into the sun in the first minute, Rosie Page-Smith saw a long range cross /shot overflew the visiting keeper Amy Batkin towards the corner flag before the visitors enjoyed good possession with Kitty James dangerous on the right flank and putting one shot straight at Nicole Haines.

United saw out this early pressure and took the lead on fourteen minutes when May Hamblin beat two players to square the ball to the edge of the penalty area where Page-Smith calmly passed the ball past Batkin from eighteen yards.

A lull in play followed with either side creating any clear cut chances until the twenty eight minute when Wycombe had a goal disallowed for Holly Wilkins, enjoying her best game of the season at left back made a timely block in the United penalty area three minutes later while right back Alice Cooke also enjoyed an outstanding game against the more experienced Abie Canvin. Canvin put a free kick wide with fifteen minutes remaining while James also went wide four minutes later. With time running out and Canvin now playing on the right, the forward offside. This ignited United and saw Batkin twice having to punch the ball clear, first from a Mollie Haines free kick and then a Page-Smith cross in the fortieth minute before Wanderers broke on the left but again shot wide.

Another Mollie Haines was parried by Batkin before the all-important second goal came a minute before half time. Page-Smith’s shot was parried and fell to Natasha Master to coolly slot home from ten yards.

United were forced into a change at half time with Faye Ward replacing Ellen Surtees at centre back but this did not disrupt the defence who remained calm especially when Wanderers created three corners in quick succession that were cleared without troubling the home goal.

The decisive third goal game in the sixty ninth minute when Mollie Haines found Page-Smith who ran one on one with Batkin. The keeper blocked the shot which fell to player of the match Hamblin to steer into an empty net.

broke free but he shot was caught by Haines before the home keeper made an outstanding save on full time from the same player.

United join holders Chesham United and FA Women’s Premier League sides Maidenhead United and MK Dons in the semi final draw.