Sutton’s women’s team were part of history on Wednesday as they provided the opposition for Guernsey Women’s first ever home game at the Footes Lane ground, and in front of a crowd of 706 U’s recovered from conceding an early goal to claim a victory that earned a place in the quarter finals of the Combined Counties Women’s League Cup.
The attendance was the biggest for any football game at the ground this season, and the home supporters had plenty to cheer early on as Calleigh Hedley curled a lob over Mya Francis-Pownall, the ball grazing the underside of the crossbar on the way in. With Guernsey boosted by the goal, Francis-Pownall had to make two saves to prevent them extending their lead, but the game began to turn midway through the first half as Millie Cutler was put through to shoot under the home goalkeeper to level the scores, and nine minutes before half time Cutler had a second, forcing the ball in following a corner.
Having scored both goals to put Sutton in front at the break, Cutler was then instrumental in helping U’s take a firmer grip in the first five minutes of the second half as her run in to the penalty area was halted illegally, and Beth Humphrey converted the resulting penalty. K’Sheala Burch-Waldron hit a post as Sutton created several chances through the second half, and although Guernsey came close to forcing an exciting end to the game, Francis-Pownall again denying them, Illana Harris-Walters was set up by Amelia Halawi in stoppage time to give U’s the final word of an enjoyable game.
Team: M Francis-Pownall, T Allen, S Modak, E Meehan, B Humphrey, E Clark, T-A Bussey, E Spear, G Buddle-Smith, M Cutler, J Backhurst. Subs C Savage, A Halawi, C Connelley, I Harris-Walters, K Burch-Waldron.
