Our opening game of the season saw the team head over to Newark for a FA Cup match against a team like ourselves promoted into the East Midlands Women’s League this season.

A warm afternoon on a 3G pitch would ensure a high temperature and so it proved to be. Newark started with a squad of eighteen players and Netherton with sixteen.

Both teams were displaying their new kit and a good amount of spectators were filling the stands. With Newark getting the game under way and Netherton not having played for several weeks it was important to get a foot hold on the game in the early stages.

Newark had the first chance with a ball over our back line and with Lauren coming to the edge of the area the advancing player knocked the ball over Lauren and it rolled just wide of the post.

With this early warning Netherton were required to get a better grip on the game but another break from the hosts saw them hit the woodwork. A rare break on 26 minutes and Codie found some space out on the right wing and her ball across was put into the net by Katie for Netherton to take a 1-0 lead.

There were many balls knocked over the home defenders but Andriea and Katie were not getting any breaks and the half time whistle was blown to go into the break with a slender lead.

Netherton started the second half and with Newark still trying to play some good football without really penetrating our back line the next goal would have a significant impact and this would arrive from the penalty spot. Katie was taken down from behind and the ball was given to Emma Searle who sent the keeper the wrong way and the score moved on to 2-0.

Andriea had several chances to score and with her quality it was just waiting for her to open he account. Her goal would come on sixty one minutes and the victory was sealed.

The final whistle sounded and we now await the draw to see who we get in the second round.

Squad. Millar, Clarke, Frederick, Didio, Scott, Murphy, Steward C, Searle, Steward K, Oliveira, Upsjure, Suscenko, Cotton, Spriggs, Skipworth, Johnson.