FA Women’s Cup First Round

Forest Green 0 St Nicholas Ladies 1

SOUTH Gloucestershire minnows St Nicholas will visit Premier League side Cardiff City in the second round of the FA Women’s Cup after a shock win at Forest Green.

St Nicholas, who are top of the South West Women’s Football League Premier Divison, will play at the Cardiff International Sports Stadium on Sunday, January 12 (1pm).

The game began quite briskly. Within minutes St Nicks were awarded a penalty but Jade Gamlin drew the ball wide of the right hand post.

However, this only seemed to galvanise and inspire the team.

St Nicks played with a degree of enthusiasm, energy and cohesiveness that quite simply took Forest Green Rovers by surprise.

Their hunger for possession and determination in the tackle was characterised by an outstanding display in midfield by Jo Gay.

Opportunities to score were not in abundance and the first half ended goalless.

Following a period of play within the Forest Green half, Becky Rexworthy connected with a cross to drive a shot that was just too strong for the Forest Green keeper and it went just inside the right hand post.

Spurred on by the thought of an historic win, lowly St Nicholas played their hearts out.

Further opportunities came along for Rexworthy, who had two good strikes well saved.

During the last quarter Rexworthy even attempted an outrageous overhead kick which was on target but lacked any venom.

The last 15 minutes of the game saw desperate efforts by Forest Green to get themselves back into the game with a succession of corners being well defended by the St Nicks scramble defence, whose faces exuded grit and determination not seen before in this group of players as they hung on to celebrate a remarkable victory.