Sedgley and Gornal United FC Women have made history, as for the first time ever they have qualified for the Vitality Womens FA Cup first round proper by beating Basford United, (a team in the tier above them in East Midlands Regional Womens League Premier division) away from home.

With both teams in good form from their respective leagues, it was a perfect afternoon for both sides to put on a show and create a cup thriller, which is exactly what they did.

Sedgley captain Olivia Lloyd was the star of the day, alongside her fellow CB Katie Smith, as it was her second half goal that proved to be the winner for Sedgley and Gornal.

As Sedgley might have expected, Basford came quick out of the blocks right from the off and they could have been 2 or 3 goals to the good if it wasn’t for some excellent defending from Sedgley and some poor crosses on their behalf.

But, after the fast paced first few minutes, Sedgley began to settle down and begin playing their football.

A few more chances went begging for Basford as the first half progressed, but Sedgley were playing good football themselves and were battling hard all across the pitch.

And in the 33rd minute they got their reward when Sedgley took the lead. Nelia Severin went on a run forward, and was fouled just outside the penalty area by the Basford defender.

Up stepped Stacey Barbaccia, who fired the ball perfectly into the top right corner, giving the keeper no chance. It was advantage Sedgley just before the break.

At half-time it was Sedgley and Gornal United, the team from the tier below, who had a narrow 1-0 lead. Without manager/coach Sam being there due to recovering from surgery she had received prior to the game coach Paul York and former manager now director of womens football, Vince Gordon, would have been happy with how their team had stuck to the game plan of being tight and compact out of possession and they would have been happy to be winning the game, it meant the standards couldn’t drop going into the second half.

But by no means were Basford out of this yet.

Into the second half we went, Basford had an early chance to level the scoreline but Reece’s effort was saved by Sedgley keeper Megan Smith.

And just 6 minutes after the restart, Basford were stunned as Sedgley doubled their lead on 51 minutes. Midfielder Elle York was fouled just past the halfway line, she quickly got up and prepared to take the free-kick.

She floated a perfect ball in towards the back post, where three Sedgley players were running in, and it was captain Olivia Lloyd, who out of nowhere fired a superb volley past the Basford keeper, to give her side a 2-0 lead and send them into full on celebration mode.

As we approached the latter stages of the game, Basford began to push forward more and more to try and take the game to penalties. And in the 74th minute they managed to pull a goal back.

An almighty scramble in the penalty area between both teams saw the ball fall to Basford forward Danielle Sanderson whose little flick was enough to take it over the line, meaning it was game on in the last 15 minutes.

In the 87th minute Jade Henderson flashed a volley just wide of the Sedgley goal. And deep into added time Basford had a free-kick, but nothing came of it. So at full-time it was Sedgley and Gornal who held on for the win to qualify for the FA Cup first round proper.

The final scoreline was 2-1 to Sedgley and Gornal.

Overall, despite a spirited fight back in the second half from Basford, their FA Cup journey came to an end. Sedgley and Gornal, despite being a tier below Basford, gave a really strong account of themselves throughout the entire game. They made it hard for Basford by being compact out of possession, they defended well and battled hard all across the pitch.

Sedgley and Gornal United will now take on Solihull Moors of the National League in the FA Cup first round at The Dell Stadium on Sunday November 13.

Report by Ashlea Follows which can be found on her blog here