The first round of the FA Cup has been a bit of a banana skin historically for Lightning. Coming into this game off the back of a few losses, a favourable draw presented Lightning with a good opportunity to both progress in the cup and get back to winning ways.
Lightning made 6 changes to the side that faced Liverpool Feds last weekend, with several players making their first ever FA Cup appearance.
The opening proceedings were all Lightning, with sustained pressure leading to a penalty being awarded in the 12th minute. Lucy Chads picked up the ball around the centre of the pitch before driving forward past multiple defenders and entering the box where she was stopped in her tracks by a careless foul.
Lucy Mutch calmly dispatched the resulting spot kick, grabbing a goal in her first ever FA Cup game.
Almost immediately after, the hosts had a big chance to equalise, narrowly missing from close range. Another opportunity presented itself minutes later, but the hosts once again failed to convert it, this time with the flag going up just after.
Lightning came close to doubling their lead with a stroke of luck, as the Trent keeper almost fumbled a cross into her own net. The ball looked goal-bound but agonisingly struck the post and bounced out.
After the 30th minute, Lightning’s defence was properly called into action, with a few crucial tackles and saves ensuring the host didn’t draw level before the interval.
An organised defensive line caught Trent offside multiple times while Lightning threatened on the break, but the score ultimately remained 0–1 at the break.
The restart saw Ella Jarowicki make way for Denver Thompson.
Both sides came charging out of the blocks. The hosts had a good chance denied by Kingerley between the sticks; Lightning then went up the other end and netted their second of the afternoon in the 48th minute.
A fantastic through ball sent Spillman in on goal, who emphatically finished to double the lead.
The home side, however, pulled one back just a minute later. Lightning switched off at the back, and their two-goal cushion was snatched.
A common cliché is that 2–1 is the most dangerous scoreline in football.
Not for Lightning.
Just 9 minutes into the second half, the ball was in the net for a third time. A wonderful ball over the top reached Lucy Chads just inside the box, and she finished superbly on the volley, leaving the keeper with no chance.
After the goal, Emily McMaster was withdrawn in place of Hattie Sherlock in the 55th minute.
Lightning nearly added a fourth in the 59th minute, with Lucy Mutch almost burying a chance into the top corner from the edge of the box; however, her effort agonisingly went inches wide to deny her a brace.
Not long later Lightning did add a fourth! A corner in the 66th minute found Ella West, who rose above the crowd and buried her chance with a bullet header.
The aftermath of this goal saw more changes for Lightning, with Ferne Powell alongside goalscorers Lucy Mutch and Gabriella Spillman being replaced by Isabelle Conway, Olivia Mitchell Ramon and Stevie Kennedy.
The hosts were seemingly frustrated after Lightning’s fourth, with Conway being fouled multiple times as well as a couple of other strong challenges - eventually leading to the referee brandishing some bookings.
Lightning grabbed a fifth in the 83rd minute. Doris Greenwood curled a fabulous strike from range into the bottom corner, with the power on the strike making it unreachable for the Trent keeper.
Trent scored a consolation to make it 2–5 at the death, with a breakaway well finished past Kingerley to restore some pride for the home side.
The whistle blew, and Lightning went through! A solid away outing scoring 5, which could have been more on another day.
After three consecutive losses, the side are back to winning ways, and it is certainly a result that is bound to boost confidence and hopefully spark a momentum-building run.
Away games are never easy no matter the opposition, and Lightning showed excellent composure to play their football and win the game in comfortable fashion while limiting a home side that was certainly up for it for what was their first ever proper FA Cup game.
Overall, a good day on the road and a result to build on. It’s a fast turnaround for Lightning, with another game in just 3 days, as the side will travel to Rugby Borough midweek for a league fixture.
1. B. Kingerley 2. E. McMaster (16. H. Sherlock 55') 54. E. West 37. N. Davies 31. L. Saddington 7. F. Powell © (35. O. Mitchell Ramon 68') 8. L. Chads 22. D. Greenwood 10. L. Mutch (20. S. Kennedy 68') 18. G. Spillman (19. I. Conway 68') 25. E. Jarowicki (13. D. Thompson 46'), Unused subs: T. Murphy, M. Rogers.