Thatcham Flames 0 Banbury United 2

Goals from Jenny Hoggins and Debbie Andrews take United through to the League Cup quarter-finals

Banbury began much the better of the two sides in this Third Round Thames Valley Counties League Cup tie and were soon dominating proceedings.

In the 9th minute a Josie Clark shot from the edge of the Thatcham penalty area went just wide. On the quarter of an hour mark a cross from the right by Debbie Andrews went through to Jenny Hoggins whose shot from 10 yards was hacked off the line by a defender. Banbury were having an excellent spell at this point and in the 19th minute a cross/shot from the right by Yazmin Holmes went just inches wide of the far upright. A minute later and a shot from 20 yards by Clark saw the home goalkeeper do well to tip the ball around the post for a corner.

Banbury continued to dominate and put Thatcham under pressure, going close again in the 29th minute when a corner from the right taken by Leah Kinch led to a scramble in the centre with Emily Parker’s shot being deflected just wide.

But the goal that United had been threatening all half would finally come two minutes before the break when a throw in from the right taken by Rose Clark went through to Jenny Hoggins whose snap-shot from 10 yards hit the bottom corner of the net.

Thatcham were much improved at the start of the second half and put United under some pressure in short spells. However, it would be United who would get the all-important next goal on the hour mark when a corner from the right taken by Kailey Hardy was put onto the edge of the six yard box with it falling to the lurking Andrews who fired the ball home from close range.

Thatcham though responded well to going two goals behind and had their best period of the game in the final 30 minutes. In the 67th minute they were unlucky not to reduce the deficit when a long range effort smashed against the crossbar and ten minutes later only an excellent save from United goalkeeper Katie McLean denied the home side a goal.

With seven minutes to go United went close to putting the result beyond almost any doubt when good play down the left by Yazmin Holmes saw her cross from the by-line about eight yards out from the goal into the centre where Banbury players were waiting to tap the ball home but was very unlucky to see her cross hit the post and come back past her.

Thatcham continued to press Banbury late in the game but failed to find a way through so it ended 2-0 and so United proceed to the quarter-finals.

Photo shows United’s first goalscorer Jenny Hoggins in action at Thatcham

Banbury United: Katie McLean, Rachel Dunbar, Caitlin Timms, Leah Kinch, Sarah Rhind-O’Neil, Josie Clark, Jenny Hoggins, Kailey Hardy, Emily Parker, Debbie Andrews, Yazmin Holmes. Subs (all used roll-on roll-off): Lynsey Burdock, Heidi Malcolm-Day, Rochelle Buick, Rose Clark, Keeley Hodges.