Shanklin celebrate their second goal, from left Danielle Merryfield, and Rowan Treagus. Picture by Laura Holme.
FOOTBALL
Shanklin Ladies 2, Andover New Street 0
SHANKLIN did just the job to dump Andover New Street out of the women’s FA Cup, and book a third qualifying round tie against Brislington next month.
It was not a vintage Shanklin performance but it was enough to see them past a determined and gritty opposition, who were not afraid to put in plenty of tackles to stop the Shanklin attacks.
But the hosts prevailed and will now get ready for the next round on November 11.
Shanklin dominated throughout, and although Andover were quite threatening on the counter-attack, goalkeeper Gemma Woodford was barely tested.
However, at the other end, for all their possession, Shanklin were unable to find the finishing touch. After chances for the speedy Rowan Treagus and Susan Cullen, the breakthrough finally came on the half hour, when TREAGUS led a three-player break and she slotted home with ease.
A stern half-time talk from the Andover manager seemed to shake the mainlanders into life and they came out all guns blazing in the second half, retaining possession and keeping Shanklin camped in their own half. However, just like Shanklin, they could not get the vital final ball through, and Woodford’s saves were simple gathers.
As the half wore on, Shanklin began to regain their superiority and they doubled their lead with 15 minutes left.
The goal came originally from a weak Andover free kick, which Woodford gathered and cleared. The ball eventually found ARNOLD, who beat the offside trap, broke down the right wing and slotted home to the bottom left corner.
Shanklin finished the game with ten players, as Chloe Parkes suffered a leg injury, and Shanklin had used all their substitutes, but they held on for victory.
Shanklin: Woodford, Parkes, Cooper, Mumford, Kilcullen, Briggs, Arnold, Wright, Cullen, Merryfield, Treagus. Subs: Jackson, Dye, Davis.
• More pictures in the Friday, October 19, County Press.
Reporter: sport@iwcpmail.co.uk