Wanderers missed out on a place in round two of the FA Cup, after losing out to Ponteland United on penalties. Despite putting up a fight, it sadly wasn’t Wanderers afternoon.
With two changes from last weekend’s win against Bury, Scarlet Dearden makes her Wanderers debut, and Emmanuella Cambell made her first start for Wanderers. Sienna Limbert who was named in amongst the substitutes would also make her Wanderers debut in the second half.
The visitors started brightly and came close inside the opening minutes when Ponteland’s Katie Monaghan broke through on goal. Wanderers defence were unable to prevent the run, and although Annabelle White managed to get a hand to the initial effort, the rebound was scrambled clear for a corner.
Wanderers soon responded with a moment of quality to take the lead. On six minutes, Emmanuella Cambell raced through one-on-one with the Ponteland goalkeeper, who came out of her area to challenge. The loose ball fell to Ella Tweedle, who showed excellent composure to strike from outside the box, lofting the ball over the keeper and into the net to make it 1–0.
Bolton looked to press their advantage, with efforts from Cambell and Zara Plano going narrowly over the bar. Ponteland grew into the game and began to threaten, but efforts from range posed little danger to Annabelle White in the Wanderers goal.
The equaliser came on 22 minutes, after the visitors had been pushing to get into the game. As Annabelle came out bravely to block an onrushing forward, she was brought down in the challenge, Ponteland’s Kylie Holmes took it through and into an empty net.
Bolton created several promising moves before the break, with Natasha Dale linking well with Emmanuella Campbell and Ella Tweedle, but the visitors’ back line remained solid to keep the score level.
At half-time Wanderers made two changes, Natasha Dale and Emmanuella Cambell replaced by Tegan Higgins and Sienna Limbert making her Wanderers debut.
Ponteland came out stronger after the restart, forcing Wanderers into a spell of defensive work. Heidi Clark made block on 50 minutes to deny the visitors’ Kylie Holmes, before Annabelle White gathered to clear the danger.
Ponteland continued to press and were denied by the crossbar soon after, but Wanderers carried a threat on the break. On 63 minutes, Clark sent a superb through ball into the path of Sienna, whose effort was blocked by the advancing keeper. Ella Tweedle latched onto the rebound, but her strike was caught as the Ponteland stopper recovered.
Wanderers defended bravely as Ponteland pushed forward. Lucy Walsh made a vital clearance midway through the half, racing back to sweep the ball off the line after Annabelle White had been rounded by Devin Wilson.
Limbert looked lively in attack, testing the keeper from range on multiple occasions — including a 30-yard strike on 83 minutes that forced a fingertip save to push it wide.
Despite late efforts from both sides, the game finished level after ninety minutes, sending the tie to penalties.
Zara Plano was on with her effort in the shoot-out, when Madison Hardman also converted. But with Ponteland keeper Deryn Hutchinson twice guessing right to deny Clark and Limbert, unfortunately it was not to be Wanderers day and Ponteland proceed into the second round.
Wanderers will face Fleetwood Wrens reserves next weekend in the Alliance Design & Print Cup at Victory Park.
Wanderers: White (GK), Clark, Walsh ©, Clarke, Hodson, Dearden, Plano, Wallis, Dale, Tweedle, Cambell
Subs: Lester, Baldwin, Wilkinson, Higgins, Limbert, Hardman
Ponteland: Hutchinson, Brooks, Wilson, Monaghan, Roe, Rodda, Holmes, Bright, Maggs, Dack, Hollis
Subs: Harrow, Derderian, Mutrie, Wilkinson, Pettit, Sarsfield, Dixon
Report by Katherine Byrne. Pictures by Jake Horrocks.