Match Report: Chorley FC Women 2-1 Crewe Alexandra Ladies

Crewe Alexandra Ladies bowed out of The SSE Women’s FA Cup on Sunday afternoon after Chorley FC Women came from a goal down to win 2-1 and book a place in the next round.

Similar to the FA WNL game between the two sides last month, CALFC started the better side with Rachel Lever working hard on the right to beat a defender before crossing for Megan Booth who couldn’t get a shot off. The bright start was then rewarded after 11 minutes following some superb football from Laura Garner who got past two players before feeding Lever down the middle who calmly slotted past the Chorley keeper for her first goal in a Crewe shirt.

Falling behind seemed to kick Chorley into action as after a first sight of goal was curled wide of Hannah Holloway’s right hand post, they equalised on 19 minutes when a weak shot from just inside the box deflected off Loren Cooper and trickled into the bottom corner. Holloway denied Chorley a second soon after with a nice save to her left before at the other end an excellent delivery from Leanne Derry was headed just over by the returning Beth Ragdale.

Ragdale’s return to the line-up really improved the Crewe defence who looked a lot more solid and needed the quick reactions of Cooper to deny Chorley a certain goal with a clearance off the line. Some more great defending from Ragdale and a fine save from Holloway kept the home side out again however with two minutes to go before half-time, Cooper slid in, taking out a Chorley player giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. The penalty sent Holloway the wrong way to make it 2-1 at the break.

The second half was a very quiet affair regarding chances for either side with neither keeper being tested a great deal. A couple of shots from distance went wide before an unmarked Chorley winger headed over from six yards out just after the hour mark. Ragdale’s leadership at the back kept the home side’s striker quiet throughout however at the other end not enough was done in the final third to find an equaliser with no shots on target in the second 45 meaning the Alex Ladies’ run in this year’s SSE Women’s FA Cup is over.

More knockout football follows for CALFC next Sunday with a trip to Liverpool Feds Women in the FA WNL Plate (2pm kick-off).

Crewe Alexandra Ladies: Hannah Holloway, Kirsty Stafford, Beth Ragdale, Loren Cooper, Amy Colledge, Leanne Derry, Jess Sheridan, Laura Garner, Rachel Lever (Lexie Harrison 66’), Amanda Fallon, Megan Booth

Subs not used: Abbey Whittingham, Beth Grice

Attendance: N/A