BSLFC VS Pucklechurch LFC (FA Cup 1st Round)

It was only our second-ever appearance in the proper rounds of the FA Cup having got to this round for the first time last year. We were happy to have repeated that success but hungry to go one better.

We fancy ourselves against most teams at home, and with our defence beginning to forget what it is like to concede having gone over 540 minutes since conceding a penalty against Winchester on the 18th September, I am sure not many teams fancy the journey.

Summer signing Chrippes has been eyeing up the records and fancies herself to break the record of clean sheets for the season (currently 10) and being on 6 consecutive already I’m not betting against her.

The opening exchanges were as expected for such a big game. We looked nervous and both teams tried to make their mark on the game. A couple of mistakes at the back gave them a few sights of our goal without troubling Chrippes. While up the other end Folkenstern and Hawkins had good chances but both were straight at the GK.

26 minutes in a corner to the opposition almost gave us some trouble. Chrippes was crowded but did well to push away the initial cross before saving the next well as it was fired through the crowd.

5 minutes later and it was another good save from Chrippes on another corner.

It was a strange game in which we had a lot of possession but their striker was clearly experienced and very dangerous.

We opened the scoring from the spot, Lauren made a run into the box and was knocked down. On watching the replay it looks soft but the player clearly looks to play Lauren and not the ball and as we found out earlier in the season when you give the ref a decision to make in your own box it will sometimes go against you. Fair play to Eden having missed a pen in this game last season she showed nerves of steel to fire it home this year. 1-0

If you’re going to get a little bit of luck the FA cup is the place to do it and as Pucklechurch tired near the close of the half we were able to apply more pressure. Miles had a shot very well blocked from a Shaw cut back and as the rebound fell to Shaw the flag went up. We quickly won the ball back from the free kick and Eden went running down the left, tried to cut the ball back. She got it wrong and it ended up finding it’s way into the bottom corner via their gks foot. Eden is claiming it was on target but not even she had the audacity to claim the shot was deliberate. 2-0 42 minutes gone.

Shaw had a good chance to make it 3 in added time but got the shot wrong and it went wide.

2-0 HT we knew this was far from over, Pucklechurch have an incredible record having never failed to score in a game since they were created and only losing one game in that time.

It was the away side that started the second half brighter, a good effort evading Chrippes dive but ending just wide.

It wasn’t long before we had our 3rd though, another piece of good fortune, a shot by Hughes hit Brewer in the chest and ended up a perfect layoff for the arriving Shaw who this time made no mistake finishing into the corner. 3-0 51minutes.

There were chances for both sides but both defences were working hard to limit them and the GKs were relatively comfortable.

Plummer replaced Yeo on 70 as we looked to add more pace and test Pucklechurchs’ fitness.

As with the third goal it was a good chance for Pucklechurch then a sports goal. 75 minutes gone and they were through one on one, Chrippes denied them with a very good save with her feet.

77 Miles picked the ball up from Hughes about 10 yards inside the opposition half before rifling a shot into the bottom corner from all of 40yds to make it 4-0.

There was a couple more changes for sports as Mosley replaced Brewer and Lewis replaced Miles either side of a good chance for the opposition on 81 but they fired wide again.

Another chance on 86 was fired over as Pucklechurch desperately went seeking a consolation goal.

Mosley put the icing on the cake on the 90th minute from a Shaw cut back to make it 5-0.

We were in the hat for the second round but there was still time for the defence to keep Chrippes busy, losing the ball and giving them one last chance. Chrippes made a great double handed save before covering the rebound and that was to be the last notable event.

We move on to the second round for the first time in our history where will face a fellow Tier 5 team in Torquay United.

Rory Kitty Norman for not realising the game was an early KO despite it being talked about all week

Managers player Sam Chrippes who now moves to 7 clean sheets in row and really had to keep us in it early.

Players player: Liane Folkenstern for calm, positive play throughout the middle.