Eastern Suburbs came from behind to edge Lynn-Avon United 2-1 in their ASB National Women's Knockout Cup tie at Madills Farm on June 3, but the home team's passage through to the quarter-finals came about via a disputed winning goal. Jess Reddaway's 58th minute clearance was directed at the fast-approaching Rebecca Tegg, who instinctively thrust her hands up to protect her face. The ball struck her hands and rebounded a short distance away, with Tegg quickly latching onto the loose ball before turning and ramming home a splendidly taken strike from an acute angle. Referee Rajesh Kumar awarded the goal as Lynn-Avon appealed for a free-kick in light of Tegg's handling of the ball. While the striker's reactions were instinctive, and it was a clear case of ball striking hand, there can be no denying that Tegg gained an unfair advantage from the rebound, and it was that aspect of the goal which raised eyebrows as the Suburbs players converged on the jubilant scorer. That goal put the home team in front for the first time in the match, for they found themselves trailing in the eleventh minute to a superbly crafted goal by Lynn-Avon. Kate Seatter sparked the attack with a through ball which released Daisy Cleverley through the inside right channel. The fifteen-year-old dashed on before unleashing an early strike towards the target, with the ball destined for the far corner of the net until Erin Nayler plunged to her right to parry the sphere away from the target. But not to safety, unfortunately, for Megan Lee was following up, and gathered the ball near the dead-ball line before rolling it back into the stride of Cleverley, who had carried on running towards the target after unleashing her shot. Despite being among defenders, the youngster angled a shot across Nayler and into the far corner of the net to the delight of a Lynn-Avon side whose first attack of the match this was. It sparked a reaction from Suburbs which had the visiting side on the ropes over the course of the next five minutes. Lisa Kemp sent Mel Gooch dashing in off the left flank, and her shot was deflected narrowly past the far post. The resulting corner saw Kemp's delivery flicked on by Jolene Muir at the near post. Cue goalmouth pandemonium, with all those in white trying to turn the ball home, only to find those clad in red blocking and clearing their lines at every turn - it was a right royal scramble, one which United survived. Their release point was Chloe Wilson, who, when she aligns her execution with her intentions, delivers crosses of high quality. This was one such occasion, her pinpoint delivery picking out Lee, who was dashing through Suburbs' robust rearguard, but who failed to do justice to the service afforded her by firing wide of the far post in the fourteenth minute. Six minutes later, Lee was prevented from doubling Lynn-Avon's lead by a super save from Nayler. Kristy Hill beat Rebecca Gage in the air, but her clearance was kneed forward by Cleverley into the stride of the speedster, who found herself through on goal with just the 'keeper to beat. Nayler narrowed the angle superbly, forcing Lee to reveal her hand first, a shot which saw the Junior Ferns' number one produce a textbook save with her legs at point blank range - top goalkeeping! Suburbs' custodian was again forced into action three minutes later. This time, Ellie Jeurissen led Lynn-Avon's charge, before switching play to Wilson. Another gem of a ball in behind the home team's rearguard found Lee haring through again, the striker promptly lashing a shot which flew past the airborne figure of Nayler but past the far post as well. Back came Suburbs, who had been probing away for an equaliser in vain, as the Dana Humby-marshalled rearguard held firm. But a mistake by Jeurissen allowed Tegg to swoop and strip the youngster of possession before the striker, from way out on the right, fired an instinctive curling effort just beyond the far post. Gage spurned a glorious chance to double Lynn-Avon's lead on the half-hour mark, directing her thirty-five yard lobbed effort straight down the throat of a grateful Nayler, who had directed a clearance straight to the fourth most prolific markswoman in United's history. Jess Verdon was doing a sound job in keeping Gage quiet, but at the other end of the park, United committed a defensive lapse in the 35th minute which was to cost them their lead. The sight of Kemp bombing down the left before whipping in a cross has not been as frequent as the fullback would prefer so far this season, but when called upon, she never fails to deliver, and on this occasion, "Kempy" provided a peach. Any striker would love to receive service of this quality, even if they were surrounded by defenders. Incredibly, Tegg had no-one in red within five yards of her as she soared skywards to meet Kemp's pinpoint cross, and the prolific markswoman gleefully guided a downward header past the wrong-footed figure of

Rebecca Tegg tussles with Ellie Jeurissen Renee Leota holds off Rachel Head Hannah Carlsen shadowed by Evie Millynn Daisy Cleverley controls in front of Lisa Kemp Erin Nayler Amanda Rasch chased by Megan Lee

Reddaway to level the scores. A right royal arm wrestle ensued until half-time, although Renee Leota stupidly and needlessly got herself booked for taking the phrase to its literal extremes, after being called for a foul by the referee. From the resulting free-kick, Hannah Carlsen surged forward before spreading play wide to Wilson, who whipped in a cross towards Gage. Amanda Rasch won the header, but her wayward clearance allowed the United striker a second chance, only for Nayler to deny it by bravely saving at Gage's feet. The 'keeper played the ball out to Kristy Hill, who spotted Leota looking to make amends for her booking by channelling her aggression into the sort of run which creates havoc in opposing defences. The ball duly arrived at the striker's feet, and sure enough, Leota had Rachel Head and Humby at sixes and sevens in very short order as she burst between the two of them before unleashing a twenty yard drive which had "bottom far corner" written all over it. Its destiny remained unfulfilled, however, Reddaway producing a superb full-length fingertip save to divert the sphere narrowly past the far post, which prompted a Rasch corner into the goalmouth. Tegg soared skywards again, and came within inches of giving Suburbs the half-time lead with a powerhouse header deserving of better fate. The home team were given a wee bit of a rev-up at half-time by coach Richard Wilson, which was evident from the very first whistle of the second half - they tore into their task with a vengeance. Evie Millynn set off on a driving run through the heart of Lynn-Avon's midfield in the 47th minute before picking out Muir, who fired in a cross targeting Leota. Reddaway's anticipation of the delivery was superb, while her handling of crosses - not just this one, but a handful of others which came her way in this half - was top notch. She has made enormous strides as a goalkeeper in the last thirty months, make no mistake. After Rasch had calmly dealt with the threat posed by a Wilson cross, despite the presence of its intended targets, Gage and Lee, further Suburbs pressure ensured, with Tegg eventually hitting the post following a Kemp corner, before Gooch sent a twenty yarder sizzling narrowly over the crossbar. The moment of controversy which ultimately decided the contest followed, and as Lynn-Avon reeled from the blow, Tegg went in search of her hat-trick, only being denied it in the 59th minute by Seatter, who tracked back well before blocking the striker's effort at point-blank range after more good work by Rasch and Muir on the right. The goal decision wasn't the only one made by referee Kumar which raised eyebrows. There were a handful of other calls which, on another day, may have been interpreted differently, but one the official got spot-on saw him book the usually cool, calm and collected Verdon for her uncompromising bordering on reckless challenge which sent Cleverley crashing to earth in the 62nd minute. The sight of the yellow card being brandished gave notice to both teams that no more silly stuff would be tolerated, and after Carlsen's thumping volley had careered narrowly past Nayler's left-hand post following the resulting free-kick, a spell of thrust and counter-thrust followed, with Lynn-Avon's pursuit of an equaliser matched stride for stride by Suburbs' counter-attacking qualities - absorbing fare. After Muir had sent one flying over the bar, an effort preceded by the bizarre sight of Humby having to clamber over Leota as the latter stumbled right in front of the former, United went close to levelling matters fifteen minutes from time when Cleverley's persistence allowed her to get the better of Hill near the by-line and set up Wilson for a cross which found Lee lurking in the area. Nayler calmly plucked her volley from its trajectory in the shadows of the crossbar, and denied the same player seven minutes before full-time, Humby and substitute Eloise Morris having combined to send Lee racing through once more. This time, the 'keeper tipped the striker's effort round the post. Immediately prior, Leota sent a header flashing over Reddaway's crossbar from a Kemp corner, while five minutes from time, Rasch - she played well - broke up another United attack and sent Gooch racing away down the left, from where she picked out Leota, who fired a shot through the legs of the retreating figure of Humby, only for Reddaway to dive to her left and smother soundly. United's pursuit of an equaliser proved fruitless in the time which remained, and it is Eastern Suburbs' name which will enter the draw for the quarter-finals, which take place in a fortnight. Before then, however, these teams have it all to do again, this time with league points at stake at Madills Farm in a week's time. Suburbs:     Nayler; Rasch, Hill, Verdon (booked, 62), Kemp; Millynn, Wood, Tegg; Muir, Leota (booked, 43) (Manak, 90), Gooch (McLeod, 90) United:     Reddaway; Boyce, Humby, Head; Wilson, Cleverley, Seatter, Carlsen, Jeurissen (Doubleday, 86); Gage (Morris, 78), Lee Referee:     Rajesh Kumar