This season’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup competition got underway on Sunday last, 1st September, with 145 First Qualifying Round matches. Your Roving Team took in the all-Middlesex derby between Denham United and Ruislip Rangers, at The Den, United’s well-appointed Oxford Road ground.

Denham United are the largest all female football club in South East England and currently compete at the 5th tier of the Women’s Football Pyramid, in the London and South East Regional League Division 1. The club provided five players for Middlesex’s Southern Counties Ladies Championship winning side last season, with Beckie Currivan being ever-present. Beckie, Niamh Cashin and Jenny Nagle played on Sunday but Daisy Baranowski and Lauren Cox were nursing injuries.

Ruislip Rangers have 65 teams, ranging over both genders of all ages, including vets, disability and walking football squads. They have more than 800 players in total. Their Ladies first team play in the 7th tier of the Pyramid, in the Thames Valley Counties Women’s League Division 1. This is only the second season that they have competed in the Women’s FA Cup.

The match was played on a very hot sunny afternoon, under a cloudless sky. It was pleasant for the onlookers but far from ideal for the players. The warm conditions made it necessary to have drinks breaks during play. However, despite the warm conditions and the difference in the status of the two sides, we were provided with a very watchable contest, which was a credit to the players and the match officials.

Denham United recorded a comfortable victory. They won 8-0, after leading 4-0 at the interval. Ruislip Rangers should not be too discouraged by the result or by the margin of their defeat. They played some good football and created scoring chances of their own. Their heads did not go down and they kept competing right to the end of the match. The sporting attitude and resilience of both teams was commendable. The team of Middlesex FA match officials contributed to a good afternoon’s football.

The first serious attacks came from the visitors in the 4th minute. After good approach work involving Anna Davis and Kirsty Atkins, Denham’s Lizzie Rose made an important tackle on Catherine Fahy. Then Anna’s touch in the goal area went narrowly wide.

At the other end, Jenny Nagle volleyed a shot over the Ruislip Rangers crossbar.

United took the lead in the 15th minute. Niamh Cashin passed to Sofia Harris, who took the ball on and placed it past the keeper.

Within a minute, Sofia scored again, converting Jenny Nagle’s pass from close range, to make the score 2-0.

Annie Hewett’s drive from the edge of the box produced a corner for United. The ball fell to Jenny Nagle, who netted but was adjudged offside.

Kirsty Atkins burst through the Denham defence but keeper Zara Butt saved at her feet.

After a water break, Jo Torr took the ball through the visiting defence and fed Sofia Harris, whose shot was blocked.

Keeper Niamh O’Grady parried Niamh Cashin’s close range shot.

Ruislip Rangers then mounted several threatening attacks. Millie Hollis broke into the box to set up Anna Davis, whose shot was blocked. Alice Gibbons’ shot on the turn from Catherine Fahy’s throw in was just wide.

Kirsty Atkins released Anna Davis, whose shot was saved by Zara Butt. Then Catherine’s header released Amelie Hogberg, whose shot was also saved by Zara.

At the other end, Jenny Nagle worked her way through the visitors’ rearguard and let fly from 25 yards but was just too high.

Beckie Currivan cut in from the right to score Denham’s 3rd goal in the 40th minute.

The 4th Denham goal followed 2 minutes later. It was hit from long range by central defender, Lizzie Rose. Lizzie was the regular Middlesex Ladies’ representative team goalkeeper between 2015 and 2019, making a total of 11 appearances but she now prefers to play out on the field.

United had 2 further scoring attempts before the half time break. Annie Hewett’s shot from the edge of the box was parried and Jo Torr’s long-range effort was wide.

Half time score: Denham United 4 Ruislip Rangers 0

Denham resumed the attack immediately after the interval. Niamh O’Grady saved low shots from Annie Hewett and then Sofia Harris, after each of them had been set up by Niamh Cashin.

Rebecca Horwood took the ball up the right to the byeline but Niamh O’Grady parried her low cross out of the reach of the incoming Niamh Cashin.

Niamh hit a drive across goal and past the far post. However, in the 51st minute she scored a great goal to put her side 5-0 ahead. She left 4 defenders in her wake before stroking the ball home.

16 year old Rebecca Horwood scored her first senior goal, with a lob from outside the box on the right, to put United 6-0 ahead in the 65th minute.

Good approach work by Rachel Keightley and Jenny Nagle set up Sofia Harris to score United’s 7th goal and complete her hattrick in the 69th minute.

Zara Butt saved at Catherine Fahy’s feet.

After some good approach work by Jenny Nagle, Niamh Cashin and Sofia Harris, captain Annie Hewett notched her sides’ 8th goal. She hit a terrific drive from outside the box, which Niamh O’Grady got her hands to but could only push into the top of the net.

Niamh saved 2 further scoring attempts from Annie Hewett, after she had been set up by Rebecca Horwood and then by Niamh Cashin.

Final score: Denham United Ladies 8 Ruislip Rangers Ladies 0

TEAM LINE-UPS

Denham United Ladies: Zara Butt, Rebecca Horwood, Rachel Keightley, Jo Torr, Lizzie Rose, Amna Butt, Beckie Currivan, Annie Hewitt (capt), Sofia Harris, Jenny Nagle and Niamh Cashin.

Substitutes: Megan Kennedy, Jess Stickley, Ruby McCulloch and Jess Polton.

Manager: Mark Currivan   

Assistant Manager: Frank Baranowski   

Physio: Diya Jadeja.

Ruislip Rangers Ladies: Niamh O’Grady, Hannah Hamid, Ciara Gowen, Caitlin Wright, Abi Smith, Anna Davis, Kirsty Atkins, Amelie Hogberg, Alice Gibbons, Catherine Fahy and Millie Hollis.

Substitutes: Eve Perry, Amy Gibson and Priya Kotecha.

Manager: Dave Holden   

Coach: Graham Pratt.

Referee: Nima Hosseinali   

Assistant Referees: Kacper Ignatiuk and Andy Kowalski.

Next Round: Denham United have been drawn away to Ascot United in the Second Qualifying Round, scheduled for Sunday, 22nd September.

Report: Jim Taylor

Photography: Chris Benn

PICKS

FULL SET