VITALITY WOMEN’S FA CUP THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND
Sunday October 24th, 2.00pm
The Lamb Ground
TAMWORTH WOMEN 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN WOMEN 1
Abbie Brewin 47
Cobblers: Isobel McDonald, Bianca Luttman, Emma Billenness, Fay Noble, Abbie Brewin, Alex Bartlett, Leah Cudone (sub Charlie Cooper 90), Abbie Reboul (sub Georgia Tear 67), Rachael St John Mosse (sub Alex Dicks 62), Rachael Mumford, Dannii Warren
Sub not used: Jo Daniel
Northampton Town Women progressed to the Vitality Women’s FA Cup first round proper with a 1-0 win away to Tamworth on Sunday.
Abbie Brewin scored the Cobblers’ goal early in the second half
Joint-managers Lou Barry and Josh Oldfield made six changes to the team that knocked Kettering Town out of the Northamptonshire FA Women’s Cup last week.
Isobel McDonald, Emma Billenness, Abbie Reboul, Rachael St John Mosse, Rachael Mumford and Dannii Warren all came into the side. Football and Education Programme scholar Warren became the 15th player to come through the player pathway under Barry and Oldfield.
The Cobblers started brightly and dominated the first quarter-of-an-hour, St John Mosse breaking through on goal and forcing Tamworth goalkeeper Erica Turner to parry wide early on.
Billenness hit the crossbar with a free kick from the edge of the area a few minutes later.
The tie became more even after the Cobblers’ opening spell of control, but Tamworth were unable to get out of their half and test McDonald before the break.
The final opportunity of a goalless first period fell to Billenness, whose effort from the edge of the box was caught by Turner.
Billenness provided the assist as the Cobblers broke the deadlock two minutes into the second half, Brewin nodding home the wing back’s cross at the back post.
Brewin came close to doubling her tally on the hour mark when she fired over at the back post from another Billenness ball in.
Leah Cudone worked some space and hit the crossbar from 20 yards as the Cobblers looked to increase their advantage late on.
Substitute Alex Dicks cut inside in added time but her low effort was well-saved by Turner as Barry and Oldfield’s side progressed to the first round of the FA Cup for the first time.
They return to East Midlands Women's Regional Football League Premier Division action when they host Lincoln United next week.
TAMWORTH MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 0
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 0
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (3) 6
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 11
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 11
CORNERS: (4) 9
FOULS: (3) 8
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (1) 2