Cullompton Rangers LFC
Redders hits second hat trick
Cully 6 v Taunton 0
30th Sept
Cully progressed into the 3rd qualification round of the F.A. Cup when they convincingly beat Taunton 6-0 at Speeds Meadow. With only one change from last weeks side (Kim Betlem replacing Rachel Javan up front) a familiar and well-organised Cully team faced visitors Taunton. The away side were the quickest out of the blocks when they won a corner in the first minute. This was cleared and Cully went on the attack. Jess Hooper crossed from the left and a first time shot from Betlem beat the keeper but hit the cross abr. The first twenty minutes were fairly evenly contested with Cully taking time to settle, and Taunton battling well. Some early saves from the Taunton keeper denied Cully the lead, including a great left footed shot from Catherine 'Curly' Wright which was turned around the post.
The deadlock was broken on 25 minutes when Emma 'Redders' Redwood thundered home her first goal of the day. The girls were rewarded for their neat and patient build up play when Redders received the ball on the edge of the box with her back to goal. She turned and dragged the ball away from the defender, and her resultant shot was too strong for the keeper. Lifted by this Cully immediately won the ball back from the Taunton kick-off and pressed for a second. They only had to wait two more minutes before Redders had scored her second. Josie Copp won the ball in midfield and passed to Kim, Kim then threaded an exquisite ball through the defence finding Redders running in on the right hand side of the box. Her first time, low shot was hard and accurate and beat the keeper as she flung herself to her left. The third goal came just before half time and just surpassed the other two for quality. Curly won the ball in midfield and her pass found Redders on the edge of the box. Redders had great vision and spotted Kim sprinting towards the box, she played a neat back heel to her strike partner who struck the ball first time, on the run, low and across goal. She found the corner of the net to make the score 3-0.
Half time was a welcome break for Taunton, who had seen all their work in the first half undone in 15 minutes. Cully started the second half as the ended the first and attacked in numbers. Jess and Karen 'Bucky' Buck saw alot of the ball down the left in the first 5 minutes, and between them supplied some great crosses into the box. One such cross was met by Emma Jones, but her strike went over the bar. Kerry Powell-Tuckett also attacked from full-back on the right and linked up well with winger Jones, giving the team width in attack. The fourth goal came on 55 minutes. Josie was dominant in midfield and having recieved the ball from Curly, went striding forward. After beating one player only a foul could beat her, she picked herself up and took the resultant free-kick. Her strike was teasing and drew the keeper from her line. Redders made a nuisance of herself and distracted the keeper, and as she challenged for the ball it went into the net. Although seeking her hat-trick Redders was honest and denied making a connection, giving Copp her 5th goal of the season. Redders' honesty was rewarded soon after when she did get her third, a shot from the edge of the box was powerful and although the Taunton keeper got a hand to it she couldn't prevent it from going into the goal. Bucky nearly made it 6 when she connected with a Curly corner, Bucky attacked the near post and headed the ball across goal but saw her effort cleared off the line by a Taunton defender. Curly did make it 6 when she struck an unstoppable right footed shot from ten yards outside the box, capping a strong display from the midfielder. Jess was unlucky not to get on the score sheet when she attacked a stunning cross from Kim. As Jess looked to slot the ball into the net she was well challenged and denied from a last ditch defensive tackle. Taunton finished the game brightly and enjoyed some attacking possession giving their defence a breather. Sam Bell and Kaylee Symons were called upon to assist their full backs as Taunton attacked and keeper Coupe was alert also to protect her clean sheet. Max came out quickly and dived bravely at an attackers feet to deny her a shot on the edge of the 6 yard box.
The win for Cully sees a tough tie next week against fellow league team Penzance, this is guaranteed to be an exciting match as both teams have started the season strongly. This cup match replaces the league fixture between the two, which was scheduled for the same date. Kick off will be at 2pm at Speeds Meadow.