Durham FA County Cup semi-final and Chester-le-Street Town Ladies travelled to the Racecourse ground to take on Durham Cestria. Chester were without a few regular 1st team players including Kacie Elson who was travelling with the ECFA squad. The last game that Chester played was away to Leeds United where after trailing 1nil at half time they came back to win 1-3.
Durham Cestria are currently top of the North East Regional Womens Football League Premier Division, they hadn’t lost a league game this season.
Within the first 3 minutes of the game Chester created their first chance on goal but a shot from Lizzy Thompson-Clarke going just wide. As the half progressed both teams looked to be playing decent passing football, but the defences proved to stronger.
After 17 minutes Durham had a shot at goal but it went over the cross bar. Shortly after Chester had a free kick just on the edge of the 18 yard box. The free kick was taken by Rachel Mellor who put the ball towards 6 yard box but Durham’s defence cleared the ball.
The remainder of the 1st half was an even affair between both sides until the 43rd minute when one of the Durham players had a shot toward goal which Jones would have saved however the ball took a deflection off Rachel Mellor and went into the back of the net. Half time and the home team had the advantage.
At half time Lizzy Thompson-Clarke was replaced by Amy Lawson. On 55 minutes Amy Lawson had a sublime long range shot from around 20 yards on the right wing and it floated over the keeper into the back of the net. A feeling of relief could actually be felt by the Cestrians in attendance.
On 65 minutes Lucy Jackman has a shot from just inside the 18 yard box but the keeper easily saves it. Then just less than 60 seconds later Durham has a long range shot that looks to be going over the bar but the ball just hits the bottom part of the cross bar then it bounces off the back of the Jone’s head into the back of the net 2-1. There was nothing that she could have done to prevent the ball going into the goal.
After this Chester knew that they were in a battle and they continued to attack the Durham goal they had a free kick which was put over the cross bar. No matter what Chester tried to do Durham managed to find away to repel the attacking plays.
