Carla Gardiner (in the picture above) gave the Blues a first-half lead before Oxford levelled shortly before the break. With the score level after 90 minutes, the tie went straight to a shootout, where Victoria Rudz saved Oxford’s fourth penalty and Gabi Storey scored the winning kick.

Chelsea competed very well against an Oxford side who are top of the third tier and had not lost in any competition this season. Leanne Champ’s side edged the possession statistics and worked tirelessly throughout. The Blues showed great character and intent to go further in this competition than in previous years.

Gardiner breaks the deadlock

Chelsea went ahead on 27 minutes. Patient combination play around our own box involving Storey, Lola Brown and Keira Johnson ended with the ball returned to Rudz, who went longer into the wide left channel under pressure from an Oxford forward.

A mix-up between Oxford’s central midfielder and full-back sent the ball into the air, and Brown capitalised to restart the attack. She drove forward into space with options on either side and picked out Gardiner, who had peeled off to the left.

Gardiner took a touch inside the box and unbalanced the Oxford centre-back with quick feet. The defender raised a leg to block, and the shot deflected into the net.

Oxford equalised two minutes before half-time. Storey and Chloe Sarwie played short from a Chelsea goal kick to find captain Belle Sullivan centrally, but good Oxford pressure forced the Blues into a mistake, with the Yellows' number 10 slipping her finish across Rudz and into the net.

Rudz and Storey seal shootout win

Champ made a double change on the hour, as Aysia Matabaro and Stevie Sinclair replaced Rebekah Pierce and Gardiner. The score remained 1-1 at full-time, and under competition rules the tie went straight to penalties, with Oxford going first.

Oxford converted their first three kicks, sending Rudz the wrong way each time. Brown buried Chelsea’s first low into the corner, and Chelsea N’Drin scored straight down the middle, but Sinclair’s effort went just wide of the left post.

Rudz read Oxford’s fourth penalty well, saving a slow effort down to her right, and Nelly Las drove low and hard into the corner to level the shootout at 3-3. Oxford’s fifth taker then blasted high over the bar, and Storey stepped up to squeeze a low, hard penalty in past the goalkeeper to send the Blues through.

What it means

Chelsea are in the draw for the second round of the Women’s National League Cup. The draw takes place at 7pm on Wednesday 4 November and will be shown on the FA WNL YouTube channel.

What’s next?

The Blues return to PGA Division 1 action on Wednesday 4 November, when Sunderland travel to Cobham.

Team

Chelsea (3-4-3): Victoria Rudz; Chloe Sarwie, Gabi Storey, Zoe Ciccardini; Belle Sullivan (c), Keira Johnson, Chelsea N’Drin, Lola Brown; Rebekah Pierce (Aysia Matabaro 60), Carla Gardiner (Stevie Sinclair 60), Nelly Las
Unused subs: Freya Weeks, Annie Boichat, Sophie Leach, Tess Finn, Jahmya Putman
Scorers: Gardiner 27
Penalties: Brown (scored), N’Drin (scored), Sinclair (missed), Las (scored), Storey (scored)
Manager: Leanne Champ