With first choice keeper Viv Hughes out of action, a tactical reconfiguration was required to the Ducklington Line up. Katie Weavin took up the gauntlet in goal and midfield stalwart Holly Keylock dropped effortlessly into the left back role, commandeered at the back by Katy Hoare in the centre and flanked on the right by Emily Gee.

Not that the Ducklington defence had much to worry them in the opening 5 minutes of the game. A well worked build up from the start and defensive maestro Katy Hoare weaved a ball through to loan striker Sophie Pymm in the opening minute whose shot drew the first save of the game from the Cholsey keeper.

There continued a period of Ducklington dominance with well worked build ups and pin point passing but with Laura Jones and Francis Hook in midfield and Sophie in the loan striker role the final delivery was not quite gelling and Ducklington were caught on the break in the sixth minute leaving Katy Weavin to pull off a spectacular save to keep it all square. With seven minutes gone and an injury to Franny, Skipper Ella Butler took to the pitch and raced with the ball from her first touch the length of the pitch only to see her shot screech wide of the left post.

There followed a period of play in which Ella Butler, Laura Jones and Lauren Major weaved their magic through the Cholsey ranks but failed to capitalise on the chances they had created. The passing was a joy to behold but at times a ‘selfish ‘early attempt on goal may have been rewarded.

Then it came against the run of play , a cohesive Cholsey attack in the tenth minute was defended well initially by Katy Hoare, Holly Keylock and Emily Gee but Cholsey’s persistence eventually broke through and Ducklington conceded a weak goal with the ball rolling across the Ducklington line from a scrambled attempt from Cholsey .0-1

An indignant Ducklington responded well and in the thirteenth minute Lauren Major received a cross from Laura Jones and struck the ball hard but it skimmed wide of the right post. Three minutes later and the Ducklington dynamic trio were again threading passes through to each other and this time it was Ella Butlers turn to shoot right of target. The pattern continued with Ducklington looking determined to redress the balance. Twenty three minutes gone (historically a bogey spell for Ducklington) and Ella Butler feed the ball through to Laura Jones whose cross was picked up by the advancing Lauren Major and this time it was Laurens shot that screamed wide of the left post.

A minute later and the Cholsey right back picked up the ball from deep inside her own half and ran the length of the pitch, her angle of shot was cut down by the defensive brilliance of Abbey Lloyd , Katy Hoare and Emily Gee and the strike was ably collected by stand in keeper Katy Weavin. In the dying seconds of the half Ducklington were again in the Cholsey goal mouth and only a micron of the plastic upright saved Cholsey from Lauren Majors scrambled strike. The whistle drew an end to the half with the score at 0-1 Buoyed by their lead,

Cholsey started the second half with pace and their resulting shot fell just left of the Ducklington goal in the opening seconds. Two minutes gone and the Ducklington fans looked on in a mixture of wonder and disbelief as their side failed to score with a barrage of shots from Ducklingtons Sophie Pymm.

Francis Hook and Ella Butler peppering the Cholsey goal but with none clearing the line. In the fifth minute it was the Bluebirds turn to attack but Ducklingtons Abbey Lloyd, Katy Hoare and Holly Keylock saw off the first challenge and then the subsequent breakthrough and shot from Cholsey was professionally dealt with by Katy Weavin in goal.

The game continued at an entertaining and racing pace with attacks at both ends including a long range shot from Cholsey in the eleventh minute which looked destined for the back of the Ducklington net but for the wizardry of Katy Weavin whose save against the right post was spectacular. Ducklington continued to attack with their strike force stamina second to none lead on as ever by skipper Ella Butler.

Then in the seventeenth minute of the half the Cholsey right back put in another pitch length run and this time her shot squeezed between Katie Weavin and the right post. 0-2 Ducklington responded well but the luck was not to be with them today and in the final seconds of the half Cholsey sealed their fate with a shot into the left hand side of the Ducklington goal.0-3

Out of the cup but not down hearted Ducklington leapt at the chance of a post match friendly. The manager ‘mixed things up’ a bit with Laura Jones as keeper and the strikers and defenders swapping position. The final score of this game finished with Ducklington Victors winning 3-1 - their goals coming from Ella Butler, Katie Weavin and Francis Hook.

The Ducklington fans left happy, wishing only that the games had been reversed! The Ducklington Player of the match was deservedly awarded to Ella Butler who had captained a well fought and good spirited game, leading from the front as always.