After a 3-3 draw earlier this season, both teams had joked about a draw in the FA Women’s Cup and this was a closely contested cup-tie, which unfortunately Referee Jo Kingwell had no option but to abandon after 90 minutes due to monsoon like conditions.

Reading almost drew first blood after only 4 mins when Leila Dickinson hit the corner of the crossbar from a free kick 20 yards out, followed by a good attack from Serena Hickman and Naomi Best on 10 minutes. After 25 mins, Jackie Alston put Newton Abbot ahead after a fierce shot from Karen Smith rebounded to her. 5 minutes later, C Wright put a well-placed header past Nic Snarey in the Reading goal to give the home side a 2-0 lead. The goal scorer then had to leave the pitch with a broken nose after a collision with Terry Whitmore during a Reading attack.

With lots of injury time to be played, Reading got in a response before the half time whistle when Naomi Best shut down the Newton Abbot defence and got her face in the way as the ball was cleared. The ball ricocheted off Best and fell kindly to Hickman who raced in on goal and coolly put the ball past the keeper. Abbot almost scored again before half time when Whitmore was dispossessed on the edge of the box but Snarey made a fine save at the base of the near post to clear.

Reading began the 2nd half strongly with Hayley Holland providing a great cross for Laura Woodley which the keeper bravely dived in front to collect. There were few clear-cut chances in the next 20 minutes and then the rain came! Vikki Smith was stretchered off for Reading with a knee injury after a crunching tackle in the rain, and Simone Lavine came on to replace her.

The ball would just not move on the poorly draining pitch and this lead to Reading scoring the equaliser 10 minutes from time. A Newton Abbot defender ran past the ball just as she was about to pass, it stopped dead in a puddle, and Naomi Best nipped in to score to set the game up for extra time.

With the game supposed to be decided on the day the referee had no choice but to abandon the match tied at 2 each and after taking instruction from the FA Newton Abbot now have to travel to Reading this coming Sunday (16th Nov) to face Reading at home in a replay.

With Smith out for several weeks with a knee injury, Reading welcome back Rhonda Stewart and Bev Hall to try and secure the victory at home. The winners will face Wimbledon at home on December 7th.

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