Ladies keep hopes of cup glory alive

But boss Vanessa Raynbird has called on her team to show greater killer instinct after Jemma Tewkesbury got the decisive goal in the 2-1 win against the Rs.

Tewkesbury’s effort, along with Charley Wilson’s strike, made the difference after the Blues fell behind early on.

Kaylee Schumann-Edwards scored an own goal on five minutes after a hopeful ball was launched into Pompey’s box.

The win keeps up the Blues’ hopes of progressing, with Reading and Cardiff also in their round-robin group. Pompey lost their opening cup tie 2-1 against the Royals.

Raynbird’s side spurned a host of chances after falling behind to QPR.

Captain Gemma Hillier put a ball into the box for one good chance in the first-half but it skimmed past Kirsty McGee.

Moments later, a similar move saw Hillier latch on to a ball from McGee only to fire wide.

Hillier then saw another effort slide past the post as Pompey remained 1-0 down at half-time.

It seemed as though their luck was not going to change after the break when Shelly Cox missed the target.

But finally, after 70 minutes, Pompey equalised.

Cox’s well-placed corner landed at Lauren Murphy’s feet, but the Rs’ keeper parried her effort into the path of Wilson who wasted no time in putting Pompey back on level terms.

The Blues continued to push forward and Wilson nearly made it two but her effort sailed over the bar.

Cox was then denied when her shot was easily saved by Rangers’ keeper.

Then, after 86 minutes, the QPR keeper palmed Wilson’s cross into the path of substitute Tewkesbury, who slotted it in with her right foot to give Pompey a hard-fought win.

The result makes it three victories this season for the club ahead of the trip to Charlton this weekend.

Raynbird was happy with the outcome but feels there is room for improvement from her side.

That means making more of the possession the side have and showing more cutting edge.

Raynbird said: ‘We’re happy but we made it difficult for ourselves.

‘We had lots of opportunities – Gemma Hillier had three or four very good chances, as did Charley and some of the other players.

‘We need to show more composure. We had a lot of time on the ball and we didn’t capitalise on that.

‘But we won the game and that’s the main thing.

‘It’s a tough group but it’s still open as Reading lost to Cardiff.’