Women's Report | Cards into Chairman's Cup final

Woking secured back-to-back Chairman’s Cup final appearances thanks to a brilliant performance against Division One North league leaders Long Crendon. The Cards will now face Beaconsfield Town Ladies in the Final at Reading City FC on April 28th, at 11:00am.

Gaby Hobday had the game's first chance inside ten minutes, but her effort was saved by the goalkeeper.

Kaitlin Howard and Ellie Boddy made long-awaited returns to the side on either side of the half-hour mark, replacing Hayley Giles and Laura Mitchell.

Shortly before half-time, a moment of pure magic from Bianca Underhill saw her score directly from a corner on the left-hand side to put her team in front. The number two was in pure disbelief before being congratulated by her teammates.

It could have been two just before the break when Kaitlin fired a shot towards goal, but she was unlucky to see it rebound off the bar.

Trudy Bryan-Kerr was forced off seconds before the whistle due to an injury outside the box and was replaced by Caitlin Burnett, making her senior debut after being promoted from the Development Team.

HT: Woking 1-0 Long Crendon

In the second half, the visitors slowly found their way into the game, but couldn’t quite get into positions to test the returning Amy Jenkins.

Bianca went on a brilliant run down the right during a Woking spell that lasted a few minutes and found Charlotte Keenan who placed a great cross into Kaitlin, but her header was saved. Kaitlin had another chance just a minute later when she spectacularly tried to lop the ‘keeper from 20-yards out, but just saw her effort go over the crossbar.

Hayley and Laura both returned in the 70th minute, swapping with Caitlin and Sophie.

The Cards doubled their lead five minutes later thanks to a fantastic ball in behind from Bianca putting the goalkeeper under pressure, allowing a small touch to fall to Kaitlin who smashed home from an angle.

The visitors grabbed a consolation almost immediately after a mistake from Amy in goal, parrying the ball into the ball of a Crendon player, but it didn’t matter because Woking restored their two-goal lead right away. An electric run from Gaby down the left allowed her to pass to Charlotte who scored on her second attempt to put the game to bed.

FT: Woking 3-1 Long Crendon

An immense occasion for all involved, as the team now have the chance to retain the trophy that they won just 12 months ago. This time, however, the journey to the final has been much better and the trophy is in reaching distance.


Woking Starting XI: Jenkins, Burgess (70), Mitchell (35) (70), Cotter ©, Underhill (89), Theocharous, Nichol, Bryan-Kerr (45+4), Hobday (80), Giles (28) (70), Keenan

Subs: Boddy (35), Howard (28), Burnett (45+4) (70) (80), Brown, Marr (89)

Attendance: 54

Player of the Match: Bianca Underhill