February 17, 2025
Report by Ben Stevens.
Photo courtesy Marc Payne Photography.
Cheltenham Town Women booked their place in the Gloucestershire FA Senior Women’s Cup semi-finals on Sunday, with an 11-0 win over Pucklechurch Sports Ladies.
Jess Leach opened the scoring after just 2 minutes, with Emily Owen’s effort bouncing in off Ellie Soper after 25 minutes. Henna Butcher then added a third just a minute later, before Abbey Hateley and Owen rounded off the first half scoring.
Leach then added her second early in the second half, before Anais Trinci and Issy Newns scored themselves, with Leach then completing her hat-trick on the hour mark. An own goal made it 10, and Owen’s rocket from a distance made it 11.
First Half:
Cheltenham made nine changes from the midweek defeat at Gwalia, with only Emily Owen and Holly Finch staying in the team.
Two minutes into the game, Jess Leach put the Robinesses ahead with a lovely looped strike over Ellie Soper from close range for only her second Cheltenham goal after returning from injury.
After 25 minutes, the captain, Emily Owen, smashed an effort off the crossbar, which then spun behind keeper Soper to double Cheltenham’s lead.
Just a minute later, Henna Butcher added a third, after Abbey Hateley put a great cross into the box, which rebounded into the path of Butcher, who finished really well into the far corner.
On the half-hour mark, Cheltenham won a free-kick on the edge of the Pucklechurch box, which Leach stepped up to take. Her effort hit the post, and Hateley was on hand to tap in from close range!
Cheltenham went close again with Kaitlyn Morgan, but it was Owen who added the fifth just before half time, with a super header from a corner.
Second Half:
With three changes at the half-time break, Tom Davies’ side started the second half like they started the first, with Leach scoring early on. This time, it was a wonderful strike into the top corner from a tight angle for her second goal of the day.
Anais Trinci made it seven after 52 minutes, with a powerful effort, before Issy Newns grabbed her first goal of her second spell at the club, with a lovely chipped effort after a brilliant first save from Soper.
After 60 minutes, Leach grabbed her first hat-trick in a Cheltenham shirt after a long conversation between the referee and the linesman about an offside decision, but Leach had smashed the ball into the underside of the bar and into the goal.
Soper made some brilliant saves ten minutes for the end, claiming a bouncing ball from Trinci’s effort well, before producing a wonderful diving save to deny Doris Greenwood a goal.
Cheltenham’s 10th was an own goal, after a wonderful cross from Trinci was turned in but a Pucklechurch defender.
Two minutes before the end, Owen added the final goal with a brilliant long-range effort which found the top corner.
Cheltenham’s attention moves back to league action, as they host Watford at Kayte Lane next Sunday.
Cheltenham: Smith; Jones (Wellesley-Davies 64), Finch (Llewellyn 45), Owen; Hateley (Trinci 45) , Collis, Attenborough (Bell 64), Morgan; Leach, Butcher (Greenwood 45), Newns.
Cheltenham Player of the Match:
Chosen by Opposition: Jess Leach
Attendance: 64
