October 20, 2025
Cheltenham Town Women have progressed into the next round of the FAWNL Cup after a 2-1 win over Southampton Under-21s.
It sees the Robinesses into the Last 16 of the Women’s National League Cup for the first time in the club’s history, having previously reached the last 32 in the 18/19 season.
Goals from Louise Guymira and Libby Bell were enough to see Tom Davies’ side through to the second round.
First Half:
Cheltenham took the lead within the opening few minutes, Guymira pouncing on a loose ball, rounding the keeper, before slotting home from a tight angle, with the ball hitting the wheel of the goal, despite some confusion at the ground.
Keeper Charlotte Haynes was called into action to deny Poppy Walton, who was played through on goal, from finding an equaliser, making herself big and denying her from close range.
Minutes later, Libby Bell doubled Cheltenham’s lead, her effort from the corner going straight in.
Her cross was a good one in, and the wind helped the ball curve into the goal, with Arnott stood on the line.
However, seconds later, Southampton halved the deficit through an unfortunate deflection off the knee of Courtney Jones.
The half fizzled out from there on, with Hall and Guymira having a few more chances, but neither could convert.
Second Half:
The second half was a lot quieter than the first, with the Robinessess looking to see out the game.
Haynes made a fabulous save to deny Jess Rawlings from scoring the equaliser, Rawlings finding herself free in the area but not able to find a way past the keeper.
Courtney Jones and Charlotte Salisbury-Williams had chances to put the game to bed for Tom Davies’ side, but they weren’t taken, before skipper Emily Owen and Guymira tried their luck at a third.
Owen took an ambitious strike from range from range, which required the attention from Saints keeper Ella Pettit, before substitute Casi Evans’ cross found Guymira unmarked in the area.
However, the now joint-top scorer couldn’t add a third late on.
Despite a scrappy end to the game, the Robinesses held on, and are through to round two of the FAWNL Cup.
The draw for the second round takes place on the official FAWNL Instagram account at 7.15pm on tonight, with the ties taking place on Sunday, November 9.
The attention turns to the FA Cup next weekend, as Cheltenham make the trip to Millwall Lionesses in the First Round Proper, before closing out the month with an away trip to Gwalia United on October 30.
Cheltenham: Haynes; Salisbury-Williams (Evans 84), Owen, Llewellyn, Norman, Bell; Arnott, Jones (Ellis 68), Curtis (Brittain 84); Guymira, Hall (Newns 77).
Attendace: 79
