The Lady Pies claimed their spot in the semi final of the FA Women’s Cup with a 5-1 victory over Aston Villa, leaving them just one win from a Wembley final.
Inside the first ten minutes, Notts had a great chance to take the lead. Aileen Whelan made a strong run with the ball from the left wing, cutting inside and laying the ball to Rachel Williams. The striker sidestepped one player before threading the ball through to Ellen White, the forward took the ball in her stride and carried it into the area, but struck her shot straight at Caitlin Leach in the Villa goal.
The windy conditions were making it hard for either team to stamp their mark on the game, with a succession of County corners ending in pinball within the visitors box, Emily Owen eventually clearing.
Half way through the first period Jess Clarke won a free kick 25 yards from Aston Villa’s goal. It was the chance for the Lady Pies to try another clever free kick routine, but this one ended with Alex Greenwood firing wide.
Just before the half hour mark White almost opened the scoring again. Good link up play with her strike partner Williams, again found White racing into the box, Leach making a great one handed save to divert the ball wide.
On the stroke of half time County took the lead. The ball came to Ellen White wide on the left of the box, the striker hitting it first time over the keeper and into the back of the net, an instinctive strike from the forward.
It took just eight minutes of the second half for the home side to double their lead. Williams won a free kick 30 yards from goal, Greenwood whipping a left foot effort against the inside of the post from the set piece, with captain Laura Bassett was on hand to turn home the rebound.
The task got a lot harder for Villa just before the hour mark as Emily Owen received her second caution in six minutes, for a high challenge on Leanne Crichton, reducing the visitors to just ten players.
It wasn’t long before County made it three. Sophie Walton played a great ball through to Aileen Whelan who finished into the corner on the stretch, to all but secure their progression to the semi finals.
With twenty minutes left on the clock substitute Dunia Susi scored the fourth. Jess Clarke was denied by Leach, Aileen Whelan reacting first to the loose ball, passing to Crichton in the box who laid it off to Susi on the edge of the box, the winger rocketing her shot into the far corner.
Four minutes later and Aston Villa grabbed a consolation. Alicia Robinson’s free kick from wide on their right wing found Kerri Walsh in the area who rose highest to flick it into the bottom corner.
Susi added her second with five minutes left, Whelan’s cross finding the winger in the box, the substitute taking it on the half volley, drilling it high into the net.
Notts were dominating the game at this point but couldn’t find the sixth goal, Susi missing a late chance for her hat trick with a scuffed shot.
The match finished and County progress to the semi final where they will be away to Everton Ladies.
Teams:
Notts County Ladies FC: Telford, Greenwood, Buet, Clarke, Williams (Susi 67), Walton, Turner, Crichton, A.Whelan, Bassett (C) (F.Whelan 73), White (O’Sullivan 73).
Unused subs: Draycott, O’Neill.
Notts County Ladies FC Goal Scorers: White 45′, Bassett 53′, Whelan 65′, Susi 71′,84′
Aston Villa Ladies FC: Leach, Baker, N’Dow, Owen, Cusack, George, Moran McCue (Crackle 68), Robinson (Merrick 79), Welsh, Wilkinson (Fergusson 71).
Unused subs: West, Richards.
Aston Villa Ladies FC Goal Scorers: Welsh 74′
