Hethersett march on in cup

Barking 0,

Hethersett Ladies 1

HETHERSETT Ladies went through to the next round of the League Cup when a last-minute Emily Coates' penalty saw them knock Eastern Region Premier Division leaders Barking out 1-0.

Leading scorer Coates struck with seconds remaining to see the cup holders through to the second round and give them a hat-trick of wins over table toppers over the past three seasons.

Last season on their way to the trophy Hethersett knocked out Dagenham and Redbridge and the season before they accounted for Norwich City.

It was Hethersett's second win in three weeks over Barking, having previously beaten them in the league.

Athletic had to do things the hard way, however. They were without Lisa Ferdani through injury and Jess Hollis due to illness.

Due to an unprecedented amount of injuries in the women's section of the club they travelled with just one substitute.

Both sides played good football in the first half, although the visitors

looked more likely to make the breakthrough.

Hethersett's injury problems worsened, however, when Adele McCrory was carried off with an ankle injury after 25 minutes, forcing them to re-shuffle.

Hethersett defended in depth for the remainder of the first half with Coates and Emma Mulley looking dangerous on the break. After the break Hethersett adopted an unfamiliar format aimed at stopping Barking's wide players.

Both goalkeepers were brought into action as the game hung in the balance.

It looked likely that a single incident would decide it and with a minute

left Coates broke free on the left and cut inside to play the ball into the path of Mulley. The cross struck the arm of a Barking defender and the referee awarded a penalty.

Coates stepped up, despite the jeers of the Barking supporters, to place the ball calmly into the bottom corner and seal the win that was hugely deserved by Hethersett for the sheer work rate, determination and togetherness they showed when it seemed as though little more could possibly go wrong.