Women's Report | Cards hit double figures in Chairman's Cup

Woking eased into the next round of the Southern Region Women’s Football League Chairman’s Cup after dismantling Caversham United. The Cards, who had already scored seven before the break, started their title defence in emphatic fashion.

The hosts took the lead inside the first five minutes thanks to an incredible effort from Trudy Bryan-Kerr. Her shot from outside the box looped over the ‘keeper and landed in the back of the net.

It was two before the ten-minute mark after a brilliant corner from Laura Mitchell found Sheena Nichol who headed home. That’s now the third home game in a row where the team has scored inside the opening minutes,

It wasn’t long until Sheena’s name was up in lights once more, this time with an exquisite goal. The number eight fired a shot from outside the box, as she always does, and watched it move side-to-side in the air, leaving the goalkeeper planted to the spot. It was some knuckleball.

Woking were miles better from the off and they made four thanks to a brilliantly well-worked team goal shortly after. Efrosyni Theocharous back-heeled the ball into Sheena’s path who then slipped in Trudy to grab her second of the match.

Less than 90 seconds from the restart, it was five, after a superb run from Gaby Hobday behind the Caversham defence was rewarded with a goal. The pacy winger chased the ball down and dug the ball over the ‘keeper and into the roof of the net.

The visitor's first and only real moment of promise throughout the entire game came in the 35th minute through a free-kick finding an unmarked player at the back post, but the cross evaded every runner.

Sheena broke her brace curse before half-time as she got a hat-trick with a brilliant trademark goal outside the area. As soon as she ran onto the ball, there was only ever going to be one outcome, as has been the case so often this season, and she duly obliged to live up to the expectation.

The feeling of Déjà vu came around when the Cards made it seven before the break, as that was the score in their last home game against Rushmoor. This goal came through a clever pass from Efro finding Gaby, who spectacularly volleyed into the net.

HT: Woking 7-0 Caversham United

In the second half, it was business as usual as it only took two minutes to make it eight. A skilful run from Gaby allowed her to cut the ball back to Charlotte Keenan who tapped home to get her name on the scoresheet.

Just before the hour mark, Sian Hardaker came on, replacing Gracie Price. It was great news to see Gracie get more minutes and her first start since returning from injury.

Woking kept attacking and never slowed down at any point and was awarded with a penalty after a handball in the box. With regular taker Helen Ogle not being in the squad, up stepped Bianca Underhill from right-back to smash the ball past the ‘keeper for her first goal in a Woking shirt.

It was soon double figures in back-to-back home games for the Cards as Trudy made it ten. A short corner of the right-hand side allowed Laura to get a better angle to cross and she found the number 14 who grabbed a hat-trick of her own. She just loves cup competitions. She scored her fourth two minutes later after thumping the ball home from a loose rebound.

Gaby was a serious problem throughout the entire game to the Caversham defence and she once again got in behind, this time squaring the ball to Charlotte who got her second of the afternoon.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Efro went into the referee’s book for a foul in the centre of the pitch and received a yellow card. In the same phase, Sophie Burgess came off the bench to replace Ellie Boddy.

To round off a brilliant display, Bianca got her second in hysterical fashion after what she thought to be a mis hit shot, actually ended up in the goal to her surprise. The saying London buses feels appropriate here with two goals coming in one outing for our number two.

FT: Woking 13-0 Caversham United

A serious win after the frustrations of defeat no less than a week ago and without two of the team's top goal-scorers is very significant. It shows the rally of the troops to get back to winning ways and in some style. All attention now turns to next Sunday’s huge Capital Women’s Cup Quarter-Final against Brentford FC at Bedfont Sports Club.



Woking Starting XI: Jenkins, Boddy (81), Cotter ©, Mitchell, Underhill, Price (57), Theocharous, Nichol, Hobday, Bryan-Kerr, Keenan

Subs: Hardaker (57), Burgess (81)

Attendance: 26

Player of the Match: Trudy Bryan-Kerr