Match Report: Watford Ladies 1-2 Dunstable Town Women

Photo: Cerys Rees’ opening goal.

Written by James Smith

Photos by James Smith

Dunstable Town Women produced a ‘cupset’ on Sunday by knocking out higher placed opponents Watford Ladies to progress to the third qualifying round of the FA Women’s Cup.

They got off to a flying start when Cerys Rees capitalised on an error in the Watford defence to score in just 22 seconds.

It was a great way for her to celebrate her 17th birthday as she hit a fine curling shot into the net.

Watford controlled a lot of the ball after the goal but didn’t create a clear opening, with only a few half chances which went wide of the target.

Town missed a golden chance to double the lead on 27 minutes when Ella Rothwell fired over from a few yards out when it seemed certain she’d score.

Ruby Powell almost played in Rothwell after good build up play on the half hour mark before a fine strike by Rebecca Lovelace was well seen and taken by Town keeper AJ Hebborn.

The hosts tried to play but couldn’t make possession count and were left to pay when Rothwell doubled the lead just before half time when a free kick was flicked on by a Watford defender into her path and she made no mistake in hitting the back of the net.

Watford came out early for the second half eager to get back into the game and duly did within five minutes of the restart when Lovelace drilled home a low shot into the bottom corner.

Town had to hold their nerve and concentration with so much time left. They had to defend for much of the half and did so resolutely.

Shannon Cullen produced a superb goal saving block with fifteen minutes to go as Dunstable’s determination to keep their opponents at bay grew as the game went on.

In the 86th minute Watford shot over but the game was becoming increasingly stop-start with injuries and yellow cards.

A courageous back line led by the experienced Gemma Darvill and Dionne Manning along with the youthful Cullen and Keira Larch kept the hosts out.

Hayley Smith and Cerys Rees provided steel down the middle and it was needed as 15 minutes was added before Dunstable could celebrate another historical win.

Team: Hebborn; Larch; Manning; Darvill; Cullen; Foster; Walker; Rees; Rothwell; Smith & Powell.

Subs: Aylward-Hill; Grace-Wille; Shahid; Champ; Plumbridge and Hanson.

Dunstable Players of the Match: Hayley Smith & Cerys Rees.

Attendance: c80