The game almost started perfectly for Wednesday. The ball fell to in-form Nicole Shaw, who attempted an audacious effort from outside the area, forcing the Handsworth keeper to use her feet and turn the ball behind for a corner.

Handsworth grew into the game and were rewarded with their first real chance in the 9th minute. A corner was whipped in from the right and parried away by goalkeeper Chloe Rose, but only as far as a Handsworth attacker, who fired home to put the visitors 1–0 up.

They doubled their lead in the 15th minute with a spectacular looping header after a cross from the left-hand flank. However, it took just two minutes for Wednesday to respond through Shaw. After winning a free-kick on the edge of the area following a reckless tackle, she took it quickly and calmly slotted it into the bottom-left corner to bring Wednesday back into the game.

The rest of the first half was a cagey affair, with chances few and far between. Defender Romy Lee produced a superb sliding block to deny a goal-bound effort, keeping the score at 2–1 going into half-time.

The second half proved significantly more subdued than the first, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances and break down stubborn defences.

Wednesday’s best chance of the half came in the 65th minute when midfielder Jodie Stancill played Rachel Norsworthy through on goal. Her first effort was saved at close range, and although the rebound fell kindly, she couldn’t quite find the angle to turn it home.

Handsworth put the game to bed in the 83rd minute after a long throw caused chaos in the Wednesday backline, presenting an attacker with a simple tap-in from close range.

Wednesday almost grabbed a stroke of fortune in the 88th minute when the Handsworth keeper nearly fumbled Clayton’s long-range effort, just managing to claw it off the line. In the final moments, Chloe Rose denied Handsworth a fourth, with a brilliant reaction save from close range.

Despite a closely contested encounter, Handsworth progress in the SHCFA Women’s Senior Cup, taking their chances when they came. Next time out, we take on Lower Hopton Ladies at home.

XI: Rose; Gilligan, Yeardley, Lee, Pratley; Colford, Crossland, Hastie; Vessey Norsworthy, Shaw. Subs: Stancill, Russell, Barrett, Clayton.