Heated road clash with Railway City FC ends in draw
JUNE 1, 2025
Cambridge United’s Women’s First Team travelled to London on Sunday for a heated
rivalry match against Railway City FC and battled to a hard-fought 2-2 draw.
Despite struggling to connect in the beginning of the first half and under early
pressure by Railway City, Megan Voutour opened the scoring midway through the
half to give Cambridge the lead. Minutes later, Railway City responded to keep the
score even at 1-1 heading into half-time.
The second half saw Railway City capture the lead early in an increasingly scrappy
game. Both teams continued to press hard, Cambridge determined to level the
score, but the equalizer wouldn’t arrive until the final minutes of stoppage time,
Anastasia Kraja capitalising on a rebound to level the score 2-2 and secure the
single point for Cambridge on the road.
Team
Cambridge: Mitchell, Blazek (Fraga 60’), Mackie (Owen 56’), Halley (Richards 60’),
Harris (Lunshof 56’), Kraja, Di Benedetto, McCall (Hunt 85’), Lariviere, Voutour, and
Heyes
Unused subs: Courtney, Bruni, and Menjhart
First Half
Railway City pressed early on, finding opportunities down the left flank in behind
Cambridge’s back line. Goalkeeper Shae Mitchell would do well to keep them out as
Cambridge struggled to establish any sort of offensive threat in the beginning of the
half.
Mitchell continued her dominant performance throughout the half, shutting down
Railway City’s Lezizidis when she broke through Cambridge’s back line and into the
box. Mitchell’s aggressive collection of the ball off of a heavy touch helped relievesome
of Railway City’s offensive pressure and inject some energy into the visiting
team.
Cambridge found their offensive spark midway through the half following a foul on
Claire Di Benedetto after she completed a nice turn building from the back. Di
Benedetto’s subsequent free kick was recovered by Hayley Mackie, who slotted a
through ball towards the home team’s goal that led to an error by the Railway City
goalkeeper. Annick Lariviere capitalised on the turnover to win it just outside the
18-yard box and slot it to Voutour who drove the ball home right into the upper
netting to give Cambridge a lead of 2-1 in the 28th minute.
Cambridge’s elation was short-lived, however, when Railway City found a response
moments later in the 33rd minute finding the upper netting themselves off of a
through ball into the box.
The game continued to heat up, fouls traded back and forth as both teams pushed to
gain the lead before half-time. Despite their efforts, the score would remain 1-1 at the
half’s conclusion.
Second Half
In the second, Railway City gained an early lead when Miles found the back of the
net for her second of the game, putting the home team up 2-1 in the 49th minute.
The second half saw no changes in Cambridge’s starting line up until the 56th
minute, Jordan Lunshof and Molly Owen coming in for Mya Harris and Mackie.
Minutes later in the 60th minute, Ava Fraga replaced Ashley Blazeck and Shenasia
Richards stepped on for Katie Halley, the visitors looking to fresh legs in their hopes
of gaining an equalizer.
Both teams continued to push with opportunities at both ends rising as well as the
tension. With the clock ticking and pressure mounting for Cambridge, they would
finally find their equalizer in the 93rd minute. Cassidy Hunt, who had come on for
Kay-Lynn McCall in the 85th minute, unleashed a left-footed strike that the Railway
City goalkeeper mishandled. Lariviere directed the rebound towards the net—and
though the goalkeeper recovered—Kraja found it off the bounce, falling in her effort
to get the ball over the line for the late equalizer.
Railway City found one more opportunity to regain the lead in the final minutes, but
were shut down once again by Mitchell, helping secure a valuable point for
Cambridge on the road.
Up Next
Cambridge United’s Women’s First Team will be back in action Wednesday, June 4th
at Club Roma as they take on St. Catherines Roma. Kickoff is set for 8:00 PM EST.