WATFORD Ladies almost pulled off a shock to reach the last 16 of the Women's FA Cup against a side three divisions their senior.

The game finally got under way after the debacle last week which saw Watford travel to Yorkshire only to be told the pitch was unfit.

Nerves played their part in the opening exchanges and it came as no surprise that the more experience home side took the lead on nine minutes.

Nicola Crimp was unable to clear a cross and the ball was placed beyond the reach of young keeper Emma Wickham.

The goal brought Watford into action and their endeavours to get the ball wide at every opportunity began to create chances.

Leanne Small went close twice, including a dipping effort which hit the bar, but their confidence was further dented when Wednesday increased their lead.

Again Watford were unable to clear their lines and the ball was prodded home from close range.

Things were going badly but Watford were right back in the game on the stroke of half-time when Tracey Koch collected the ball 40 yards out and as the Wednesday defenders backed off, she hit a magnificent effort into the net.

After the break, Stephanie Belcher was upended by the Wednesday keeper by what appeared to be a professional foul but the referee only gave a free kick.

Shortly afterwards the dream was all but over when Wednesday hit a third but Watford refused to give up the chase and when Koch scored her second goal with ten mintues left, a grandstand finish was anticipated.

However, Watford's killer touch was absent and they bowed out of the competition and had the chance to use that age-old football cliche of having the opportunity to concentrate on the league.

WATFORD LADIES: Wickham; Fidler, J Spencer, McGroaty, Crimp, Ray, Burns, Koch, Small, E Spencer, Belcher. Substitute: Bidwell for J Spencer.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.