The Shots Ladies hosted Horley Town in the second qualifying round of the Women's FA cup at the Recreation Ground. Horley from the South Eastern Premier would give the Shots a good test and from the kick off Horley settled the better and were using the open spaces of The Recreation Ground.
The Shots defence were caught out early on with a long ball over the top for their forward to run on to and easily fire past Calder in the Shots goal.
The Shots started to press and on a number off occasions should have levelled the score. Finally McDonald won the ball in midfield, moved it onto Hann who out-paced her marker to get a cross into the box. The Horley keeper and defender went for the ball, which dropped to McDonald who sided footed in at the back post for her first goal of the season.1-1
The game became more open and both teams started to test both 'keepers. Toward half-time, and the Shots failed to clear the ball, and the Horley forward fired the ball, which took a wicked deflection in off an Aldershot defender.
Half time score Aldershot 1 Horley 2.
After half-time, the game seemed to be evenly balanced, with the Shots having the greater amount of possession. Again, the long ball was catching the Shots out as the Horley forward found the back off the net 1-3. At this point the Shots heads were down and Horley pressed on for the kill. The Referee gave yellow cards out to two of the Shots players, much to the bewilderment of the management team.
Horley scored the fourth goal mid-way through the second half, when again the ball wasn't cleared and the Shots were yet again punished.
Horley's 5th goal came in the final minute of normal time, when the Shots keeper and Horley forward went for the ball. With both players lying on the floor, a Horley player reacted quickest and side footed home to make it 1-5. However that was the least of the Shots' concern, as Hayley Calder had to be stretchered off with a serious injury.
With the Shots losing their goalkeeper and down to 10 players, having used up all three substitutes and Meredith moving between the sticks, again Horley broke and scored another goal before the final whistle sounded.
Final score: Aldershot 1 Horley 6
Congratulations to Nikki Hargreaves who received the Player of the Match award.
Managers' views
The players let themselves down on the big stage, Horley were hungrier for the game and it showed. I thought the referee spoiled a good game and after watching the video ,still don't know what the yellow cards where for, I wish referees would just treat ladies football as they do when they referee men's football.
Again it doesn't take away the fact that we didn't perform in most areas of the pitch.
The Squad:
Calder, Hargreaves, Giberson, Coles, Grover, North, C Shepherd, McDonald, Ireland, Hann, Kagbo
Subs: Wallman, D Shepherd, Meredith
Sub not used: Donoghue
Next game: