Oxford United Women were knocked out of the FAWNL Cup this afternoon following a 2-0 defeat away at Hashtag United Women.
Malika Apindia opened the scoring early on for Hashtag before Sammy Rowland added a second quickly after the restart.
United didn’t learn their lesson from the League meeting between the sides; Hashtag are a physical and energetic side, and when Apindia charged into the box from an early corner, no one rose with her and she planted her header into the back of the net in the fifth minute.
George Anthony had switched to wing backs, but not long after the opener United had to readjust as Hayley Hoare went off injured. Taome Oliver had to drop in to right wing back with Lacy Liggett coming into the ten.
Emma Samways’ pace is always a danger, her volleyed effort was held well by Alice Russell making her Oxford debut in the 20th minute.
It took United half an hour to have their first chance on goal, but it was a clever move that earned it. Katie Sherwood’s pass found Zoe Barratt down the left who picked an excellent disguised pass into the run of Shelly Provan. The full back had to slide in to get her strike off, but it was blocked well by the chest of Frankie Angel in the Tag’s goal.
The U’s had a big let off with five minutes of the half to play when Provan sliced her clearance up into the air and the ball came off Cecily Wellesley-Smith’s hand from Rowlands’ strike. The referee pointed to the spot but the home side’s captain Grace Gilliard dragged the ball wide of the post.
Russell then made an excellent save in the dying minutes to keep United from deflating, tipping Rowland, who scored twice against the U’s last time the sides met, round the post. A poor half, but still in the game.
United came out a lot better, Barratt putting two good balls into the box but it just wouldn’t fall and Hashtag managed to double their lead against the run of play. Rowlands found some space in the left of the box and fired across Russell into the side netting with 50 minutes played.
The goal halted any momentum the U’s had after the restart and Anthony had to change things. Ellie Butler and Shaunna Jenkins replaced Sarah King and Wellesley-Smith.
Jaime Gotch flicked a headed effort towards the bottom corner in the 72nd minute but saw the ball cleared off the line, Jenkins attacked a free kick excellently shortly after, but Angel did well to claw her effort away and the U’s couldn’t find a way back into the game.
Out of the FAWNL Cup and a tough fixture in the League at home to Ipswich Town Women next weekend.
LINEUP: Russell, Gotch, Wellesley-Smith (Jenkins 69’), Sherwood, Hoare (Oliver 14’), Burridge, Wiseman, Provan, Oliver, King (Butler 66’), Barratt
Report by Billy Lawrence, Photos by Darrell Fisher and Liam Faulkner