Both Shaftesbury and the Hawks went into the game with high hopes and big stakes for their clubs. Since the reforming of the Women’s team, this is the first time the Hawks have played in the competition, with the last time being the 2011-12 season, where they reached the 3rd Round proper. The Hawks best run was when they reach the 4th Round Proper in the 09-10 season. The Rockies were looking to spoil the party and match last season efforts of reaching the 2nd qualifying round.

The Rockies started better of the two teams with a shot from Nikki Castle easily saved by Chloe Simmonds. Shaftesbury had a golden chance to take the lead in the 7th minute when Castle broke through the Hawks defence and a clinical touch from Simmonds was enough to change the path of the ball forcing Lily Greaves to hit the post from 6 yards out.

A strike from E-J May and two free kicks from Lily Moore and Megan Gratton were the first Hawks shots on the Shaftesbury goal, but the efforts comfortably saved by Emma Stranger.

The consistent pressure from Shaftesbury paid off in the 18th minute when Greaves went 1 on 1 with Simmonds, with the initial shot saved, Greaves made no mistake with the follow up and put the Rockies 1-0 up. Calls of offside by the Hawks bench were ruled away by the referee.

Katie Bundy latches on to a long ball from Simmonds, with her looping shot saved by Stranger. Shaftesbury then double their lead in the 27th minute when Castle picked the ball up from 25 yards, dribbled past 2 Hawks defenders and slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Hawks were looking to find away back into the game, with a free kick from 20 yards out hitting the wall and the rebound falling to Moore whose shot was cleared by the Shaftesbury defence. Gratton looked to have got the Hawks back into the game with a shot from the edge of the box destined for the top left corner, but Stranger pulled of the save of the game to deny the hawks striker.

Final action of the first half saw May feed Rosie Willis, but her final touch evading her in the box, making an easy claim from Stranger.

Half Time – Shaftesbury 2-0 Hawks

A half time substitute saw Bella Wilds come off and Bella Downing come on with the hawks having a change of formation for the 2nd half.

Hawks started much better, having the better chances in the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half. A Jodie Burchell header and a May shot from inside the box showing the hawks were still not out of this game.

Shaftesbury almost made it 3-0 as Castle rifles the ball off the bar, after hawks cleared from a corner. In the 57th minute Shaftesbury eventually get there 3rd of the game, with the ball coming in from the right hand side falling to the unmarked Castle who then fires here shot into the top right corner.

Hawks win a free kick, with Moore whipping a ball into the box, and Bundy winning the header but going down with a head injury. Following the resulting drop ball, Gratton squares to Burchell who drills the ball bottom left to make it 3-1 and give the hawks a fighting chance.

Hawks then have the ball in the back of the net only a few minutes later, with Gratton playing Willis through but flag was raised by the referee’s assistant. Then in the 71st minute, Gratton manages to keep the ball in on the byline, beat 3 players and then forces the keeper to tip her shot over the bar.

The Hawks pressure finally pays off as a long ball goes over the top of the Rockies defence and Willis doesn’t stop chasing forcing Stranger to kick the ball straight to May, who curls the ball bottom left making it 3-2 in the 75th minute.

Hawks continue to apply pressure on to the Shaftesbury goal, with 4 consecutive corners in the 80th minute and multiple shots forcing great saves from Stranger. In the 89th minute Gratton stepped over a free kick in a good position to try and get the equalising goal, but Stranger stood strong and match and excellent free kick.

The Hawks continued to push to try and find what would have been a deserved 3rd goal, but the Rockies weathered the storm and managed to see the game out to progress through to the next round of the FA Women’s Cup, where the face QK Southampton Ladies.

Full Time – Shaftesbury 3-2 Hawks

Report by Ash Hyson.