South WEST

LeaGuE BRISTOL

SOCCERWORLD CUP Second Round

Chippenham Tn 1

Saltash Utd 1

(Saltash won 5-3 on pens)

Having been assured the pitch would be playable before setting off, the Ashes travelled the 150 miles to Chippenham... only to be greeted by a frozen pitch!

After some frantic phone calls by the Chippenham management, an alternative venue was found some 15 miles away.

With time ticking away, a race to the new venue ensued and, after a very brief warm up, the tie kicked off at 2.40 – some 70 minutes late.

Both managers knew that if extra-time was needed, it would never happen due to the light. So, with the agreement of both managers and the referee, the game was reduced to 40 minutes each way and, if the scores were level at full-time, penalties would decide it.

The Ashes started quickly and could easily have been 2-0 up inside the first five minutes.

Steph Warren saw her drive turned around the post after three minutes and moments later she blazed over after racing clear.

It was against the run of play that Chippenham took the lead after 15 minutes. A long ball over the top saw a home striker race clear; Dan Bradford saved bravely at her feet, but the ball squirmed free and the forward slotted home.

Saltash had a strong claim for a penalty turned down after 25 minutes when Warren almost had her shirt pulled off, but the ref gave nothing. With the temperature dropping and the light fading by the minute, a shortened interval was taken.

The second period saw the Ashes start well once more and deservedly equalised after 52 minutes. Superb interplay between Emma Pemberton, Warren and Helen Kingscott around the edge of the area saw the latter score with a well-placed shot into the corner.

Saltash were now rampant looking for a winner, and Kingscott hit the post from 20 yards.

In what was now turning into an end-to-end game, Chippenham broke quickly and hit the bar after an hour.

Warren again hit the crossbar from an impossible angle and substitute Jodie Lobb caused panic in the home defence.

Chippenham, too, had chances to win the game but couldn't take them and so, as agreed before the game, there would be no extra-time and straight to penalties.

With fog now rolling in off the hills to add even more problems, Sam Drewery stepped up to fire home the first penalty, and Bradford pulled off a good save to deny Chippenham's first taker.

With Kingscott, Warren and Coral Smith all scoring and Chippenham finding the net each time, too, it fell to Emma Jenks to keep her cool and slot home the last penalty for a fully-deserved victory for the Ashes in almost darkness.