March 23, 2026
Cheltenham Town Women came from behind to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw against AFC Wimbledon at Kayte Lane on Sunday afternoon.
Goals from Emily Owen and Bella Hall ruled out Ashlee Hincks’ double.
First Half:
Despite Cheltenham’s good start, AFC Wimbledon took the lead in the opening 10 minutes through Hincks, who made no mistake, slotting past the helpless Poppy Irvine after finding herself in on goal.
Like they did in the opening five minutes, the Robinesses continued to press for a goal, Amelie Curtis having an effort beaten away by Rose Kite.
Skipper Owen was the next player to try her luck, her glancing header from a corner narrowly wide.
Indie Power’s run and cross from the left-hand side found Hall, who’s shot went wide on the spin.
However, the visitors had three good chances to double their lead, Emily Donovan’s effort wide, before Charlotte Salisbury-Williams blocked Hincks’ shot from close range.
The captain had another chance, but blazed her effort one on one over the bar, keeping the scoreline at just one.
Up the other end, Kite was on hand to deny Power again, this time parrying her effort out of danger.
It finished 1-0 to the hosts at half time.
Second Half:
AFC Wimbledon doubled their lead from the penalty spot, Irvine adjudged to bring down Taylor Bell in the area.
Captain and top-scorer Hincks made no mistake, her spot kick nestling into the bottom left-hand corner.
Cheltenham somehow did not half the deficit just after the hour mark, Courtney Jones’ lobbed effort kept out on the line by Kite, who was back peddling towards her goal.
The game was far from done with 10 minutes left to play as Millie Pullen was brought down in the area, with the referee pointing to the spot.
Owen kept a calm head and converted the penalty, wrongfooting Kite, and slotting home.
With five minutes left on the clock in added time, top-scorer Hall managed to find a way to level the game, her header looping over the onrushing goalkeeper.
The goal gifted the Robinesses a vital point with only two league games left to play this season.
Cheltenham host Bristol City PGA next week at Kayte Lane as attention turns to the GFA County Cup.
Cheltenham: Irvine; Salisbury-Williams, Owen, Llewellyn, Bell; Jones (Galley 67), Curtis, Brittain (Arnott 58); Power (Trinci 90), Hall, Pullen
