| Gadeside Rangers suffered a single goal defeat to premier division leaders St Josephs as they exited the WSL's top cup competition at the quarter final stage. It was testimony to Gadeside that they came off the pitch gutted that they were unable to turn the screw after the visitors were reduced to 10 men in the second half. However, they have proved that they can compete with the best as they gave St Joes a fright and had they been a little more adventurous in attack, could have caused a big upset. |
| St Josephs's came into the game on the back of regaining the Herts Sunday Senior Cup the previous week and were perhaps guilty of a little complacency as Gadeside were first to every ball in the early exchanges. Dave Nelmes and Daniel Brooks did well in the midfield and knitted the play together well. St Joes soon realised they were not going have it all their own way and were forced to raise their game. Former Watford trainee Ben Hammond looked the most likely threat with a series of foraging runs down the right wing but generally the Gadeside defence coped well and St Joes chances were at a premium. At the other end Russ Popplewell was enjoying some success down the left hand side and his powerful run and snapshot were well held by Felton in the visiting goal. St Joes were enjoying the bulk of the possession but were struggling the get behind the home defence. Tom Oliver had to react smartly to turn over a looping cross from Benning while Liam Sonner fired straight at Oliver when he found space in the area. It was from set-pieces that St Joes looked most dangerous and it was Alex Brown who came closest to opening the scoring when his downward header appeared to be blocked on the line by one of his own players before being hacked away. At the other end Gadeside's best chance came when Tariq Khan got on the end of Adam Hills' left-wing cross but his header lacked power and was straight at Felton. |
| The second half was again fiercely contested as St Joes came out fired up. However their enthusiasm became too much and they were reduced to 10 men when Jack Brown was shown a straight red card by referee Wakefield for a dangerous two footed lunge on Dave Nelmes. Nelmes was forced off with injury shortly afterwards forcing Gadeside into a reshuffle. However it was the visitors who nearly went ahead from another set piece when Brown's downward header was superbly tipped round the post by Oliver. St Joes were nearly caught square when Tom Mitchell's header looked set to send Khan clear but Coldrake was perhaps lucky to escape with just a yellow when he used his hand to stop the ball going through. Jay Evans wastefully put the free-kick over. Despite their numerical advantage Gadeside were guilty of playing into St Joes strengths with too many high balls that were comfortably eaten up by Brown and Coldrake at the back. However, they did finally put some good football together and came agonisingly close to opening the scoring when Hills' neat pass put Khan in behind the defence and his low cross flashed across the face of the goal with James Bryon a matter of inches away from converting into an unguarded net. It was to prove costly for Gadeside as shortly after, the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 78th minute when Hammond capitalised on a slight mix up at the back to race away on goal. Matt Evans' challenge was clumsy but he did appear to play the ball. Referee Wakefield awarded the penalty despite the challenge happening about a yard outside the box and ignoring the linesman's advice confirming this. Hammond stepped up to send Tom Oliver the wrong way. |
| Gadeside pushed men forward in search of an equaliser but again just seemed to lack that bit of invention of unlock the St Joes defence. They were able to play out the final 10 minutes relatively comfortably to book their semi-final place against Hammer. For Gadeside, they can be proud of their efforts and now have 4 league games left to try and gain the promotion to a division they will be sure they can compete in. |
| Tom Oliver, Ian Freeman, Jason Brownhill, Matt Evans, Jay Evans, Daniel Brooks, James Bryon, Dave Nelmes (Tom Mitchell), Adam Hills, Tariq Khan, Russ Popplewell |