We welcomed Leatherhead to the Seal Bay Resort Stadium, with the visitors in fine form. They are performing well in their league and we knew they would come and give us a strong challenge. We ourselves have not had the results I personally feel we deserved! We dominated the game against Sholing but were not clinical enough, in order for us to progress, we must be ruthless when opportunities are made!

Back to Sunday's game though, we started the game at a lower standard than we have set in recent matches. Whether it be the nerves around the competition, or something else, we didn't come out of the blocks firing at all cylinders! This would come back to bite us as Leatherhead took an early lead around 7 minutes in. We gave them too much space in the middle of the park, which allowed them to move the ball out to their winger, who was a very good player! She managed to get an effective ball into the cross for the forward to slot in, despite Delamont getting a hand to the shot.

We initially struggled to get a foothold in the game, struggling to string passes together as Leatherhead had the wind behind their sails! Around the 40 minute mark, we began to dig in and look to get a foothold into the game. Late on in the first half, Evans played a long ball for Wheatley to get on the end of. She does well to get the ball into Childs who beats the defender but hits the post from within the 6-yard box.

|Credit: McGuffin Media| Childs goes close late on in the first half

A little bit of tough love was given at half time, and the ladies responded well to it despite the visitors nearly getting themselves 2-0 up early on, with the winger smashing the ball over the bar from close range. Delillis continued to be a driving force for the team, with power and technical prowess coming through. This would prove vital as she put Wheatley through on goal with a great pass to allow her to score her first goal for the club, along with getting us level mid way through the second half!

|Credit: McGuffin Media| Wheatley beats the Leatherhead keeper to get her first goal for the club on her 30th appearance

We had to dig in for the final stages of the game, with Leatherhead getting at us in the final stages. A late Delamont save from a free kick allowed us to get through to the penalty shootout.

I tip my hat off to each of the ladies who stepped up to take penalties, knowing that in the same situation, I would personally struggle to have the confidence! Guymer, Childs, Delillis and Wheatley all slotted their penalties away, with G Morris unfortunate to see her penalty well saved by the visitors goalkeeper. Leatherhead missed their final two penalties, with Delamont almost saving their second, which was enough to see us get put into the hat for the 3rd qualifying round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup!

|Credit: McGuffin Media| Players and staff all celebrate winning on penalties

We return to action next Sunday as we travel to face Oxford City and The RAW Charging Stadium, kick off at 2pm.