Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, 6 September 2020
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Ladies suffered a stinging 7-6 defeat on penalties in their SSE Women's FA Cup Extra Preliminary round tie against Brentford after the game finished 1-1 after the end of normal time.
In an end-to-end clash which saw numerous opportunities for both teams, it was little surprise that there was nothing to separate the sides at full time.
Penalties then appeared set to drag on as Bassett matched Brentford blow for blow.
After both sides missed their opening spot kicks – Abi Footner pulling off a save to deny Brentford and Hayley Huckin placing over the bar – thirteen successful penalties followed, with Maddy Elliott, Grace Eagles, Beth Kelloway, Lois Beer, Laura Jefferies and Hannah Gulliver finding the net for Bassett.
However, Bassett defender Mollie Smith then had the misfortune of firing over the bar to decide the game.
Penalties is always a cruel way to lose a game, and this was no different in an entertaining tie featuring two evenly matched teams.
Brentford had gone ahead midway through the first half when a long ball over the top caught the home defence, which Rebekah Wiltshire raced onto before producing a cool finish past Footner.
Huckin had twice gone close for Bassett during the opening period and she eventually equalised shortly after the restart. Great play down the right by Gulliver freed up Holly Baker, who was brought down by the visiting 'keeper and Huckin kept her cool from twelve yards.
A great save from Footner ensured the scores remained level before Brentford had the ball in the net again only for referee Andrew Lincoln to controversially blow for a foul on the Bassett 'keeper.
The hosts soon had a spell in which they were in the ascendancy as Lani Dickinson fired wide from a two-on-one opportunity.
A frantic finish then saw Eagles curl narrowly over and Huckin nearly score with a chip, while at the other end Brentford had two efforts that almost found a winner, Footner denying the second with a good save.
Penalties were therefore ultimately required – and it was the visitors who edged a tense shootout.
Credit: Stuart Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 6th September 2020 at 16:44
