Written by
Monday, December 4th, 2006
Rotherham Utd Ladies are out of the Womens F.A Cup after a 2 v 1 (A.E.T) defeat by Whitley Bay in the 3rd Round Proper.
Rotherham Utd. Ladies are out of the F.A. Cup for this season after a titanic battle away at Whitley Bay in conditions that can only be described as atrocious.
Rotherham started the better and completely dominated the first half with their controlled football that made the home side look very ordinary.
The Millers should have taken the lead as early as the 10th. minute after Thickett hit her shot straight at the keeper from 8 yards.
Davies looked dangerous in the early stages and created a couple of chance but couldn't score to settle the visitors down.
Success did come Davies' way after 20 mins. when she calmly rounded the keeper and slotted home Rotherhams opener.
The second half saw the game again being dominated by the visitors but after missed chances from Wood,Davies and a thunderous shot from Thickett that hit her own player on the way to goal,Whitley scored against the run of play on the hour.
This opening now saw the home side come into the game and made the Millers life difficult and with extra time looming both sides knew that there was a "game on".
Into extra time and Whitley went into a lead after 8 mins. and for the remainder of the game Rotherham were camped in Whitleys last 30 metres and peppered the home goal.
A culmination of poor finishing, good goalkeeping and a stern defender, kept Rotherham out and so they left the North East beaten but not downhearted.
Managers comments.
"When we played our own brand of football, we were so dominant that it sometimes became too easy, but when we stopped doing what we were good at, then we allowed Whitley back into the game.
The conditions were a fantastic leveler but take nothing away from the home side, they battled and battled to keep us out and deserved the luck they had.
I cannot complain about the effort the girls put in as the conditions were difficult to say the least.
We are back to the league this Sunday and I'm looking for character as I expect us to bounce back against TNS Sunday".
Squad: Nash, B.Booth, Durrands, Pollock, Sloan, Longstone, Lynskey, Wood, Needham, Thickitt, Davis
Subs Used: Corns (Wood 75mins)
COACH SPONSOR Hart Shaw LLP
