Women's Report | Cards into last eight of Capital Cup

On an extremely windy day at Woking College, it was Woking who progressed into the Capital Women’s Cup Quarter-Finals thanks to a very convincing 4-1 victory against Denham United Ladies. A brace from Sheena Nichol and two solo goals from Helen Ogle and Trudy Bryan-Kerr were enough to cement a spot in the last eight of the competition.

The Cards started the game on the front foot and were nearly ahead inside the first minute when Charlotte Keenan saw an opening at goal, but her shot was tipped over by the goalkeeper.

Not long after that, another good chance came along when Gaby Hobday’s corner found Trudy at the edge of the box, but her effort was this time held by the ‘keeper.

The early pressure was rewarded though as in the 8th minute it was Woking who took the lead. A brilliant corner from Bianca Underhill spilt into the path of Sheena on the edge of the box and her first-time finish was hammered into the top left-hand corner. The strike was perfectly placed, beating the outstretched Denham number one.

Amy Jenkins was fantastic when called upon throughout the game and made her first save when she got down low to her left, to deny Denham with their first real chance of the game.

Unfortunately, just 20 minutes in, Ellie Boddy had to be substituted due to a re-occurring groin injury and was replaced by Helen Brown. She came on to make her first appearance since last rounds win against Welling United Women.

Shortly after, the hosts were awarded a penalty due to Gaby Hobday being hacked down in the box. Laura Mitchell played a beautiful ball in behind to her before the number 11 was taken out. Helen Ogle stepped up and converted her spot-kick into the top right-hand corner for the second week in a row.

Charlotte was causing havoc all game to the Denham defence and found herself through one-versus-one with the ‘keeper before half time but was denied through a great save.

HT: Woking 2-0 Denham United

There was one change at half time, with Louise Curr coming on to make her first appearance for the First Team this season, replacing Helen Brown.

Amy was called into action early in the second half, with the wind favouring the opposition. She managed to stretch out her right boot to deny the visitors the chance to go around her in goal and clear any further threat. With the added factor of the weather, it should be noted that she perfectly re-adjusted her starting position for the entirety of the second half, sweeping up many long balls over the top and clearing up any imminent threat. There were even times when she would start counter-attacks with great vision of passes, rather than just clearing danger out for throw-ins.

For all of her hard work though, a goalkeeper always needs their defence and on this occasion, it was Bianca who denied Denham an almost certain goal. The right-back put in a brilliant challenge on the line to prevent the visitors from crawling back into the game.

Despite Denham’s threat, Trudy made it three just past the hour mark after she battled to win back her loose pass off a defender, before cutting onto her right foot to smash home. The power of her shot was too much for the ‘keeper, who could only watch it bounce down into the back of the net. That is now her fourth goal in three games for this competition.

In the 75th minute, the Cards were awarded a free-kick on the left-hand side, about 25 yards out from goal. Now, of course, there was only going to be one person to take it and everyone associated with the red and white knew that the ball would be heading towards goal. That’s right, Sheena took aim and smashed the crossbar before the rebound fell to Charlotte who headed over. It was some effort, but no cigar on this occasion.

From the resulting goal-kick, Denham managed to work the ball up the pitch and a ball from the right-hand side was played across goal for the visitors to pull a goal back.

There were somewhat of a few nervy moments after the goal, when Denham caught Woking out on the counter-attack and had a great chance to score another, but Amy was equal to the test and denied them at her front post.

However, it was game, set and match five minutes before time when the ever so magnificent Sheena ran onto a loose ball from 20 yards out and hit the ball first time over the goalkeeper to add to her extremely impressive portfolio of goals. She will end up having to fight herself over the goal of the season at this rate. She has now scored five goals in her last three matches, an incredible start to 2024!

FT: Woking 4-1 Denham United

After the game, Woking FC Women manager John Katz said, “These women never cease to amaze me with the different performances that they put out” and “I’m so proud of the work rate.”

This victory was not easy to come by with a lot of external factors making the game harder than it maybe needed to be, so that’s why the performance and work rate definitely should be applauded.

Everyone loves a cup run and this team are now just two games away from back-to-back finals in the space of a year. Whilst the Chairmen’s Cup success was something to be proud of, this current run will fill the team with the confidence that they can go out and beat anyone in their way!



Woking Starting XI: Jenkins, Boddy (20), Cotter ©, Mitchell, Underhill, Nichol, Theocharous, Bryan-Kerr, Ogle, Keenan, Hobday

Subs: Hardaker, Brown (20) (46), Curr (46)

Attendance: 39

Player of the Match: Bianca Underhill