Match Report: Sporting Khalsa 2-3 Chester Le Street Town Ladies FC

Chester Le Street came from behind on two separate occasions to defeat Sporting Khalsa 3-2 at the GW Arena.

Rylie Kelb fired the hosts ahead in the 35th minute, Anna Cowie cancelled it out with an equaliser in the 52nd. Hope Busher restored the lead in the 76th minute.

All the drama occurred in the closing stages, as, with just two minutes plus injury time remaining, Chester captain Laura Hockaday scored twice from separate corners to seal her side’s place in the second round.

The fixture was part of the first round of the Women’s National League Plate, with Lye Town awaiting the Cestrians in the next round following the victory.

The first major chance came in the 13th minute, as Jenny Ashton was played through one-on-one, breaking the line of the Khalsa defence. She released a strike from just inside the box, which Stocking, the Khalsa keeper could only parry back to Ashton. Her second effort was also denied by Stocking.

Chester went close again through B. Boyle, who struck an effort from just wide of the goal from outside the box.

Despite Chester Le Street’s strong start to the game, it was Khalsa who took the lead in the 35th minute. Kelb headed past Chester goalkeeper De La Rue Browne for the game’s opening goal.

Chester came close to finding an equalizer in the closing stages of the first half, as a free kick delivered into the box fell to Ellison at the back post. She struck a powerful effort towards goal, with the ball rattling the crossbar.

As in the first half, Chester came out of the blocks quickly, pushing for an immediate equalizer. In the 52nd minute, Cowie found herself in the right place at the right time as a strike was spilled by Stocking, allowing Cowie to tap home.

De La Rue Browne, making her debut for the club in goal, produced a strong-handed save to deny an effort from Khalsa’s Ruby Millington in the 68th minute.

Khalsa then retook the lead in the 76th minute, scoring directly from a free kick. Hope Busher’s powerful effort proved too much for De La Rue Browne.

After going behind for a second time, Chester continued to push for an equaliser. However, efforts from both Ellison and Baxter failed to find the target.

Then, in the 88th minute, a corner was swung into the center of the box, where the ball was met in the air by a thumping header from Chester Le Street captain Laura Hockaday, who brought the game level for the second time that afternoon.

With penalties looming, Chester continued to push for a winner in the final minutes. A corner was awarded to the visitors in the 92nd minute. Another deep delivery saw the ball scramble around in the box before Hockaday stepped up once again to knock the ball home.

Having gone from being a goal behind with just two minutes plus stoppage time remaining to winning the game 3-2, it was a truly incredible comeback from the Cestrians.

Manager Matt Gattis said in his post-match interview: “Playing in these cup games is a privilege.”

The result meant it was now seven games unbeaten in a row for Chester, as they progressed to the next round, where they will face Lye Town away from home.