Davies ‘relieved’ as Cheltenham complete league and cup double

DOUBLE-WINNING boss Tom Davies admitted to being “relieved and overwhelmed” after seeing his Cheltenham Town Ladies side win FA National League South West Division One on Sunday afternoon.

Along with the title comes promotion to the thirdtier Southern Premier Division - just one level short of the Women’s Championship and two below the bright lights of the Women’s Super League.

Cheltenham defeated visiting Chesham 3-1 to secure top spot thanks to a brace from top-scorer Lacy-jai Liggett and a third from Rhian Robbins.

Kim Farrow pulled one back late on, but the full-time whistle prompted memorable celebrations for the players, staff and supporters.

Asked for his immediate reaction, Davies said: “I’m relieved. Just relieved and overwhelmed. I’m happy for everyone, happy for the chairman, happy for the players, happy we’ve got the job done in the end.

“It was a strange match. We dominated possession, and once we got the goals and went in front we’ve got a really good record, so I was confident that we would see the game out.”

Liggett opened the scoring midway through the first half when surging forward and touching the ball past the goalkeeper, and five minutes later the forward found the far corner to make it two.

Cheltenham could have had a hatful, but had to settle for just one more, with Robbins going clear to slot home before Farrow replied.

Chairman Andy Liddle was asked what promotion meant to the club and, after Davies interjected with “a bigger budget”, the man at the head of the club said: “It’s fantastic, absolutely fantastic. If you look at our football, particularly in the second half of the season, you’ve seen the way that the girls have come together.

We’re going to more than hold our own next season, it’s a really exciting time, and all credit to Tom and the girls for what they have achieved this season.”

Cheltenham completed their double with a 3-0 victory over lower-league Almondsbury in the GFA Women’s Trophy at Oaklands Park on Tuesday.

Penalties in each half from Charlotte Criddle and Liggett eased the Robins clear before one of the longest names in Gloucestershire football - Georgiemarie Barbour-gresham - headed a late third.

The lower-tier GFA Women’s Challenge Cup takes place tonight when Cirencester face Gloucestershire County Women’s League Division Two rivals Dursley, again at Oaklands Park (7.30pm).

Dursley, who have also reached the final of the Gordon Perrett Cup, were involved in the only other game locally over the Easter weekend when losing 3-2 to Oaklands Park tenants Red Falcon in the League.

An early Lucy Jones penalty put the visitors ahead, but Red Falcon took advantage of some hesitant defending to turn things around through Chloe Bragg and Amber Chaffe.

Gemma Butler’s 20-yard shot from Aine Redmond’s intelligent lay-off drew Town level on the stroke of halftime, but Vicki Grimshaw’s foul allowed Kelly Maggs to win it from the penalty spot after the break.