Chester-le-Street are counting the cost of success having won through to the fifth round of the FA Women's Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out at Newport County on Sunday.
The team won 4-2, finishing 3-3 after extra time but the 620-mile round trip has cost the club dearly and they now face the prospect of another long-haul journey at the next stage.
They've been drawn to play at either Mansfield Town or Bristol Rovers and a trip to the South-West would again hit the club's diminishing bank balance as well as the players' pockets.
The two sides play their delayed FA Cup match on Sunday to determine the Cestrians' next opponents, but general manager Bill Godward is hoping for a Mansfield victory.
"Of course we want Bristol Rovers to get beat. It's around 200 miles further away than Mansfield."
The Newport tie cost around £600, including an overnight stay, and they can expect a trip to Bristol to be similarly expensive.
The players were asked to subsidise the trip while the club paid the majority of the expenses. Being drawn out of the hat to travel to 620 miles for one game may be deemed unfortunate, to face the possibility of it happening again smacks of lightning striking twice.
Chester-le-Street's win in Wales was certainly worth the cost as Cestrians scored three great goals before they were taken to the penalty shoot-out having been pegged-back three times by their opponents.
Anna Gordon scored twice, the first being a 30-yard lob and the second coming direct from a 20-yard free-kick which sandwiched Kimberley Wood's strike. She stroked the ball into the net from 35 yards after the opposing goalkeeper's clearance had fallen straight to her.
Newport play in a division higher than the Durham club and thus became Chester-le-Street's second giant-killing victim of the competition having beaten Sheffield Wednesday in the previous round.
As both Bristol Rovers and Mansfield compete at the same level as Chester-le-Street, Godward will fancy his team's chances of progressing even further.
Chester-le-Street are seeking sponsorship from anyone interested in assisting the club in anyway and are advising potential sponsors that the competition receives coverage from Sky Sports in the latter stages.
If you would like to help the team phone Bill on 0191-491-4823
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