The Bognor women had to beat Ashford United at the MKM Arena first under the lights. A team higher in the footballing pyramid and so the Rockettes were underdogs in this fixture.
An early ball through the middle on 3 minutes saw Bognor go behind as Becky Wyatt netted it low beyond Georgia Selby.
Laura Barton received the ball from Kayleigh Akmenalkans and Barton tried to pick out Millie Carter on the left but the pass was hit too hard and it rolled out for a goal kick but there were positive signs in the early going for the Rockettes.
Ronni Jeffrey for the visitors ran through with a diagonal pass on the edge of the box but with only Georgia Selby to beat she struck it over the crossbar on 10 minutes.
Selby denied Wyatt with another strike soon after as Ashford looked very dangerous on the attack.
But on 17 minutes it was Wyatt who latched onto a poor ball out by Selby to loft the ball into an empty net to extend Ashford’s lead.
Sophie Brown for Ashford had a low strike denied soon after by Selby on 21 minutes as Rockettes were struggling to get into the game and hold possession.
On 24 minutes Ashford United extended their lead as a square pass picked out Karis Howard who hit one from distance and it flew powerfully into the net.
Jade Widdowson made a crucial headed block on the goal line to stop another destined goal soon after.
A right-sided corner fell to Carter but she was blocked with her strike and won another corner kick. Barton took the next one but it was poor and cleared at the near post by the visitors.
Ronni Jeffrey got a cross into the box and Ella Roper headed it in but she was flagged offside, so the goal didn’t stand on 35 minutes.
Roper had beaten Widdowson with her run after Macie Downs lost possession. But after a run into the box her strike was saved by Selby on 37 minutes.
It was relentless from Ashford United’s attack. Daisy Monaghan did well to cut inside and get a shot away on 45 minutes. But this chance flashed over the crossbar. Roper was then running inside from the right but she was put off by Kirsty Willett as she knocked it over the bar as well, ending a dominant first half display by Ashford United.
HT 0-3
Yasmin Howard had the first chance of the second half on 47 minutes. Following a right sided corner she received the ball outside the box but her long range effort clipped the top of the bar and went out for a goal kick.
Widdowson miscued her clearance allowing Jodie Cain in with a chance but after running beyond defence her low strike was denied by Selby who used her left leg to divert the ball around the right post. The resulting corner was met by Jeffrey in the air with a header but the chance flew over the bar on 50 minutes.
Lou Lou Robson was substituted on 55 minutes for the Rockettes.
In a rare Bognor attack, Carter did well to run into space on the left on 58 minutes. She found Starkey inside the box but her shot from a tight angle was denied by Lucy Green in the opposing goal, who didnt have a lot to do all evening.
Esmee Sword and Lilly Barrett came on for the visitors replacing Roper and Holly Diamond on 61 minutes.
A freekick was awarded to the Rockettes deep on the left side on 68 minutes which was bounced into the area by Carter but Green was there to save it.
Downs had to come off due to injury on 70 minutes. Kayleigh Akmenkalns came on for her eventually after taking out an ear ring.
Kayleigh Harris came on for he visitors, replacing Jeffrey soon after on 74 minutes.
Cain had a cross caught in the box by Selby on 76 minutes as attacks were more rare in the second half.
But Ashford extended their lead further as Cain was allowed into the box from the left. She fired it beyond Selby inside the right post on 78 minutes with a nice strike.
Akmenkalns had to come off again leaving the Rockettes down to 10 women.
Widdowson teed up Carter with a bouncing lofted pass over the defence on 82 minutes and Carter latched onto it and diverted it into the net but she was flagged offside.
Cain squared the ball to K. Howard but from outside the area she drove her effort wide of the right post.
Substitute Cain found Ashford United’s fifth goal of the evening on 85 minutes. She smacked one in from long distance high into the right side of the net.
Then Cain was running at the defence again but Widdowson was brave to block her low chance, a deflection steering the ball just wide of the right post.
Abbey Davis made it 6 goals for Ashford United as her strong shot was deflected in off a defender on 88 minutes.
After 3 minutes of stoppage time, Bognor were ultimately knocked out of the cup at the semi final stage and were unable to find a consolation goal. A strong Ashford United take on Billericay Town in the final. The Rockettes are home again this Sunday 4 February with kick off at 2pm at the MKM Arena.
