Guernsey FC Women lose historic FA Cup debut

Guernsey FC’s historic debut in the Women’s FA Cup came to a bruising end after they were beaten 3-2 by Chessington & Hook United.

The Green Lionesses took the lead inside two minutes through Calleigh Hedley – playing her first match in almost a year – when she struck low and hard into the bottom right corner.

The visitors equalised shortly afterwards through Sophia Demitriou, before Hedley put the home team ahead once again.

But it was heartbreak for Anna Gauvain’s side as a clumsy pass allowed Demitriou to score her second, before Emily Waterfall-Oldham clinched the winner minutes later to silence Victoria Park.

Guernsey FC Women were accepted into the preliminary round of the competition in July.

The club was formed in 2023, and managed to win the Jersey Football Combination in the 2024-25 season.

The following season they became the first women’s side from the Channel Islands to play in an English league, finishing seventh in the Southern Region Women’s Football League Division One South.

Last week, Gauvain said her side were “building the platform” for future generations of players.

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• Guernsey FC