Heartbreak for West as we repeated last season’s early Women’s FA Cup exit, falling at the first hurdle.

Sunday’s opponents were Crewe and we travelled to their ground hopeful of a positive start to the competitive season. There were periods of possession for both sides during the first half hour, and both teams mustered a couple of efforts on target, but goalkeepers were on top.

Things really started to pick up for West on the half hour mark. Hannah Mitchell won a free kick on the edge of the area and Biff’s effort clips the top of the bar on its way over. A couple of minutes later we go close again – excellent play between Amy Vyas and Isha Mundell, and the latter’s lobbed effort beats the keeper but drops just wide. On 35 minutes, H puts in a fabulous cross field ball to Vyas who blasts over. Still 0-0 and a feeling that we needed to take one of these chances soon. On 40 minutes, Vicky Frisby forced a fine save from the Crewe keeper and that’s the last notable action of the first half.

H-T – 0-0

As the second half gets underway, Leah is forced into an early save, the ball then going straight up the other end and H rattles the bar but the ball doesn’t cross the line on its way down. A pattern is emerging, and Crewe get in on the act on 56 minutes, themselves hitting the bar, and the rebound is hit wide.

West made a couple of tactical subs on 59 minutes with Beth Corris and Sophie Woods replacing Jami and Isha. We’re then forced into a further sub on 62 minutes, as H takes a whack to the head, and is replaced by Claire Young as a precaution.

Controversy on 65 minutes as Katy Wilman wins the ball in a tackle in our area, but the ref deems it a foul and awards the penalty. Cometh the hour, cometh the Fish. Leah makes a superb save and then arguably an even better one as she reacts quickly to beat away the strike from the rebound. Still 0-0 and keepers definitely on top.

On 70 minutes, West are further ahead in the crossbar challenge when Ellie Caddick hits it from a free-kick near the sideline.

On 80 minutes a West corner is controlled well by Wilman, but her shot is fired over the bar.

The 86th minute brings another agonisingly close effort as Biff rattles the crossbar from 25 yards. The ball will just not go in for West today.

The final minute of normal time brings the only goal of the game. A free-kick is lofted towards the box by Crewe, the West defence don’t clear their lines, and after a bit of pinball, Crewe provide the savage denouement to a frustrating afternoon for West.

Good luck to Crewe in the next round, and we’ll see them in the league in the not too distant future.

Final Score – Crewe 1-0 West (West win crossbar challenge 4-1 – you get nowt for that)

Team: Fish (GK), Mason, Wilman, Livesey, Caddick, Hodges (Corris 59′), Mitchell (Young 62′), Vyas, Edmondson, Frisby, Mundell (Woods 59′). Sub: Dolan