While most women’s teams are still in pre-season mode in August, a record entry for the 2025-26 Adobe Women’s FA Cup meant that 38 teams from the 7th-tier started their campaign in the Preliminary Round on Sunday. One of these games took place at Johnson Park in Yeovil, where the reigning Somerset County League champions Pen Mill played host to Ridgeway from the Dorset League, who are based in Weymouth.
On paper, Pen Mill would’ve certainly been considered the favourites based on last year’s form, but that idea was soon dispelled as Ridgeway took an immediate hold on the game. Molly Tighe set the visitors on their way by scoring from the first attack of the game, and their lead was doubled a minute later when Harriet Freeman rounded the home keeper. Jess Allen raced clear to make it 3-0 after 15 minutes, and Freeman scored twice more before the break to complete her hat-trick and put the Dorset team in a commanding position.
Pen Mill saw more of the ball in the second half and tried their best to get back into the game, but the Ridgeway defence held firm. When Chelsey Goldsack made it 6-0 with 15 minutes to go, the game was effectively over as a contest. Further goals from Shakira Howard-Hachem and a long range effort from Goldsack added a gloss to the result for Ridgeway, setting up a home tie in the First Qualifying Round against AFC Totton from the Hampshire County League.
We were fortunate to have photographer Ian Middlebrook on hand to capture the action.
