Chichester ladies' dump Dons out of the FA Cup

CHICHESTER'S FA cup campaign began with an emphatic 8-0 win over AFC Wimnbledon's development squad that put them in the first round proper.

AFC Wimbledon had won their previous two qualifying rounds, meaning they had progressed further than their first-team by reaching this third qualifying round tie.

Chichester were keen not to be on the wrong end of a cup upset in this game but started slowly and were put under pressure by the Dons’ attackers for the first ten minutes.

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But Chichester started to grow into the game and cause problems with their pace.

They were beginning to find their forward players in space in behind the opponents’ defence and the only thing missing was a finishing touch.

The deadlock was broken on 18 minutes when a corner was not cleared and Lauren Cheshire put the ball in the net with a volley over the top of her head.

Chichester continued their dominance and created several opportunities from both forward players and midfielders – again the only thing missing was the finish.

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With the number of chances being created, it was only a matter of time before the second goal came, Cheshire again came up with the goods – scoring a fine volley with the outside of her boot after excellent build-up play through the midfield.

Ambler, working tirelessly upfront, had several chances to get on the score sheet 
but a combination of good keeping and strong defending kept her at bay.

On 37 minutes Ambler got her reward when she slotted the ball past the keeper after a precision through-ball from the centre of midfield.

Chichester went in at the break 3-0 up and were looking to build upon the fine attacking football they had shown in the first half.

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The second half began with Chichester enjoying the lion’s share of possession in the Wimbledon half.

Fowlie and Wride built on impressive first-half displays in the middle and were combining well to create chances for the Chichester forwards.

The fourth goal again came from Ambler – a great strike from the edge of the area that flew into the top right-hand corner. Cheshire and Ambler soon completed their hat-tricks and put Chichester 6-0 up.

There was no sign of them taking their foot off the gas.

Starkey, a substitute for the impressive Symonds, scored the seventh with a fine individual effort, starting a run in her own half, going past several opponents and coolly placing the ball into the bottom corner.

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It was left to Ambler to get her fourth and Chichester’s eighth with a fierce shot from the right-hand side, clipping the post as it went in.

This was a fine Chichester performance and one that sees them into the next round of the Cup, in which they will host Gloucester City on December 1.

The team are back to league duty this week and travel to face Shanklin.

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