Attention turned to the League Cup last week as the Bucks women travelled to Lichfield City in the first round. Both teams were struggling for any sort of momentum in the league due to enforced cancellations and cup runs and this weekend was different. The winners of the tie would go on to face Walsall FC in the next round.

The first notable chance of the game fell to in form striker Charlotte Budd. A run down the right hand side from Liv Bellamy ended with her cross being cut out, falling to Budd just inside the box. Her piledriver left the keeper with no chance but smashed off the bar and to safety. It wasn’t long until the deadlock was opened and it came from a set piece on 20 minutes. A pinpoint corner from Hannah Clarke was met by the head of Jem Smith from 6 yards out over the defender on the post.

City were unlucky not to draw level from a couple of free kicks, the first not dealt with but the striker was unable to get a toe on the ball. The second a free header from 6 yards put wide.

3 minutes from the break, Budd was involved once again chasing a through ball which caused confusion in the Lichfield back line. The keeper beat Budd to the ball but was adjudged to have handled the ball outside the area. Somewhat fortunate to stay on the pitch, she could do little about the resulting free kick as Smith picked her spot for her second of the game.

HALF TIME | Lichfield City 0 AFC Telford 2

Mia Bansal in the Bucks goal had to be alert early in the second half to preserve her clean sheet before Meg Jones clipped the top of the bar after Budd broke free. Midway through the second half, Budd was then rewarded for her efforts with a goal after a Skye Hipkiss was on her toes to beat her counterpart from a goal kick. Her threaded through ball left Budd 1v1 with the keeper with only one outcome.

Budd then grabbed her second of the game and her sides fourth on 77 minutes. Her initial cross looking for Beady was cut out but offered up a shooting opportunity. A pinpoint lob from 12 yards was executed to perfection leaving the keeper stranded.

FULL TIME | Lichfield City 0 AFC Telford 4