It was two cup games in two weeks for City as they welcomed Actionians to The Nest in the second round of the National League Plate.

In what was billed by many as a warm-up game ahead of the league fixture in a few weeks, all eyes were on how City would perform against a team from their division having beaten tier five Needham Market in the FA Cup last weekend.

Andy Cook made three changes to his side from last weekend, bringing in Lara Densley and Freya Symonds from the start whilst also handing a first start of the season to Sienna Booty.

Out went Issy Moore, Ellie Smith and last week?s hattrick hero Natasha Snelling, who had to settle for a place on the bench.

Smith was without a doubt the glaring omission, having gone off in the first half of the Needham game through injury. And it doesn?t get better for last season?s Player of the Season, who is set to be out until the new year as a result.
This is undoubtedly a huge loss for City, but a silver lining did appear in the form of club captain Megan Todd, whose prolonged spell on the sidelines seems to be at a close.

Last week the skipper was on the grass and training with the side pre-match, and this week Cook deemed her fit enough to claim a place in the home dugout on the bench.

A huge boost in such a pivotal time of the season.

As for matters on the pitch, the hosts started the better of the sides.

Centre-back Hope Strauss had the first meaningful chance of the match, firing inches wide after...