“So yesterday we were back at Garden Walk for the 2nd round of the Birmingham County Open Cup against Division 1 side Coundon Court Reds, who are flying high in the Division 1 as they are top of the league.

“We knew we could not take anything for granted in the game just because they are in the league below, as we were in there last season and we thrived on playing a premier team in the same cup.

“After the loss at Walsall last week we wanted to start strong and get back to our winning ways. Starting an attacking formation and want it from the off, we started off as we needed to with a nice goal from Kelly Shirley who stayed calm on the ball and scored a great goal to give us a 1-0 lead.

“After this we seemed to go off the boil a little which is unusual for these ladies and Coundon came close and wanted to get the equaliser, but we went in at half time with the narrow lead.

“Second half we knew we had to come out and play better and get the game put to bed, and again we started how we wanted to within 4 minutes of the start of the second half, a lovely ball played through from Verity Didlick to Striker Nicole Jakeways who then beats a defender opens up her body and a lovely finish in the top right corner where the keeper had no chance.

“Then the goal of the game came in the 54th min where Leigh Taylor took on a free kick from around 20-25 yards out, after waiting for opposition player to receive treatment for a while, Leigh took freekick and a goal no keeper would of saved as it nestled lovely in the top right hand corner.

“This gave the team the confidence to then see out the game with a few more chances to make the score higher but it stayed at 3-0 to take us through to round 3 who we will take on Lye Town Reserves away at a later date.

“Also a couple notices goes out to Leigha Stanton who came on for her home debut, and Verity Didlick for the lovely ball for the goal but also stopped a goal opportunity for Coundon as she got back to clear it, and a clean sheet for our No 1 Kat who also had a good game.

“There was a good few players this week that could have got player of the match as everyone put it in, in this game especially second half as we knew we had to step it up.”

Player of the match
Leigh Taylor.

“We now go into another home game Sunday against table toppers Leamington, this will be a huge test for the ladies but Gornal Ladies will be ready to give their all.

“Thank you to the supporters again and a HUGE Thank you to the new u13s girls team for being the mascots and ball girls for the game, it was great to see these players come into the changing room to meet the players and staff and have a chat before the game.

“See you all Sunday.”

Stu.