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Sunday, November 2, 2025

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Gwalia finish in style

Winchester City Flyers 0 Gwalia United 4

Gwalia United moved into the Second Round of the Adobe Women's FA Cup with a 4-0 away win over Winchester City Flyers at the Charters Community Stadium.

The scoreline might suggest a comfortable passage for the FAWNL Southern Premier Division club but in reality it was far from easy. Southern Region League Premier Division Flyers bridged the two tier gap superbly, especially in a thrilling first half where they created several great chances to have overturned the visitors interval lead.

 

Flyers were sharp in the opening exchanges, moving the ball crisply and snapping into challenges. However the visitors soon showed their ability with Tia Asker's 13th minute opener. The striker collected a through pass, cut inside the last defender before curling a right foot shot into the top left corner.

 

Flyers bounced back quickly with Chelsie Hay bursting clear before being denied by an excellent Benedicte Haaland save. From the resulting corner, Lydia Moulding had a header tipped over then from the next delivery the hosts were awarded a penalty for handball. Haaland again preserved Gwalia's lead by saving Hay's spot kick on 19 minutes.

 

The match then entered a quieter phase with defences largely on top until Kayleigh Tonks created an opening for Flyers with a fine run just after the half hour but the final shot went high. Home keeper Ellie Parker then prevented Asker from extending Gwalia's lead with a fine tip over from a close range drive. on 37 minutes.

 

Laura da Silva had a good chance to level shortly after the restart but again the final shot was high and wide. Gwalia were still being pressed chased and challenged at every turn by a highly committed Flyers team but gradually the Welsh visitors started to create more good situations and, crucially, took their chances.

 

A long free kick on 73 minutes found Ellie-Mai Sanford to the right of the area to poke home a vital second goal. This seemed to free up the visitors who created several good chances with Parker making two fine saves as the game approached the last few minutes.

 

Gwalia added a third and fourth goal in additional time as Winchester were caught short at the back. Manon Pearce and Eliza Collie netted and gave the score a somewhat surreal air, given the highly competitive nature of the vast majority of the match and the impressive play of the hosts who can take great credit for their efforts. However, the Welsh visitors got the job done effectively and will compete in the Second Round where they will make a shorter trip to Cheltenham Town.

  

Winchester City Flyers: Ellie Parker, Charlie Snelling, Lydia Moulding, Laura Vokes, Chelsie Hay, Kayleigh Tonks, Shayne Prasad, Emma Whitlock, Laura Da Silva, Charlene Rooney, Sian Wylie. Subs: Lauren Sayler, Eloise Powell-Rowland, Hannah Chalk, Annie Northwood, Amy Smith, Ella Hughes, Emily McDonough.

Gwalia United: Benedicte Haaland, Ellie-Mai Sanford, Jessie Taylor, Cerys Jones, Callie Jones, Emma Thomas, Beth McGowan, Daisy Ackerman, Tia Asker, Manon Pearce, Cori Williams-Mills. Subs: Ameliah Yarwood, Katie Quick, Bonnie Gready, Amina Vine, Izzy Caunt, Eliza Collie.