First Team Through To The FA Cup 3rd Round Qualifying
Posted by on 3 October 2023
Arnold Eagles 1st team earned a place in the Final Qualifying Round of the Women’s FA Cup this afternoon with a hard fought 2-1 win over Skegness Town.
With 3 players away on holiday and others not feeling 100%, todays game was always going to be tough against our fellow Tier 6 opposition and so it proved.
In constant drizzly rain throughout our ladies took a very early lead when Claire pounced on a defensive mixup to steer the ball low into the corner of the net.
However, we were not having things all our own way and Ciára in our goal had to be alert to stop a number of Skegness forays towards our goal.
Our opponents were beginning to grow in confidence and deservedly equalised before half time as their high press caused a mistake and a fine finish from the Skegness striker was the result.
HT 1-1
The management team challenged the girls to show more fight and commitment after the interval and it was clear our performance needed to dramatically improve if we were going to progress any further in the competition.
The Eagles certainly took this on board and were much improved throughout the 2nd period.
Despite playing much better the game was still very much in the balance and it was going to take a moment of quality or another mistake to decide the tie.
Fortunately for us it was a moment of brilliance from Hannah D that won us the game. After picking up the ball centrally about 30 yards out from goal and not being closed down Hannah was able to advance forward before unleashing an unstoppable 25 yard strike into the top corner.
We managed the game well in the latter stages and even threatened to extend our lead towards the end.
FT 2-1
So we march on and look forward to this weeks draw with a place in the 1st Round proper at stake.
Player of the Match went to Hannah Daniel for her wonder strike and producing one of her best performances in an Eagles shirt to date.
Special thanks today to the hardy souls who braved the weather to support both teams and Alice who provided top class physiotherapy, first aid and care to our matchday squad throughout the afternoon.
⚽️💜🦅
