March 31, 2025
Report by Ben Stevens.
Photo courtesy Marc Payne Photography.
Cheltenham Town Women secured an important three points on Sunday, with a 2-0 win against Lewes FC to guarantee their place in the Southern Premier Division for next season.
Goals from youngster Una Lue and fellow striker Henna Butcher secured the three points for Tom Davies’ side.
First Half:
Davies kept the same team for the third game in a row. The Robinesses made a quick start to the game as Courtney Jones’ free-kick was almost tapped home in the first minute.
Cheltenham pressed Lewes well, and eventually, the pressure paid off, after Butcher won the ball back just inside the Lewes area, finding Lue in space, who slotted home her 21st goal of the campaign.
Lewes won a free-kick just outside of the box, but brilliant defending from the captain Emily Owen denied the away side.
Just before the half-time break, carnage ensued in the Cheltenham box as both teams fought for the ball, but the home side managed to clear away and hold on to a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Second Half:
Minutes into the second half, Cheltenham were on the front foot and Butcher almost scored a ‘freak goal’ after her tackle almost looped over Emily Moore in the Lewes goal, but the tall goalkeeper held on.
Lue also had a fantastic opportunity to double the lead, but the striker couldn’t get a clean connection on her first shot and her second was saved well by Moore.
Just before the hour mark, Butcher got the goal that she deserved. Abbey Hateley delivered a brilliant cross into the box, and Butcher finished well for her seventh of the season and gave the home side a bit of breathing space.
Substitute Amelie Curtis – fresh off her most recent selection for Wales U19 – went close as she searched for her first Robinesses goal but her effort was saved by Moore.
Butcher went close in the final minute, but her brilliant shot was denied by an even better save from Moore.
Cheltenham held on for a fifth clean sheet of the league season and an important three points in their final home game of the 2024/25 season.
Cheltenham: Smith; Jones, Owen, Wellesley-Davies; Hateley(Trinci 76), Bell; Attenborough (Ellis 90), Pemberton (Collis 79); Greenwood (Curtis 64), Butcher (Newns 89), Lue.
Cheltenham Player of the Match:
Chosen by Opposition: Henna Butcher
Attendance: 171
