Womens CupShoot out as Millwall win cup
Monday, 14 April 2008.
Around 200 supporters made their way to this seasons women's Kent Cup Final, Thursday 11th April, at Sevenoaks Town FC, to watch Ebbsfleet United v Millwall Lionesses.
In their first cup final Ebbsfleet United Ladies were considered the underdogs on the day with Millwall Lionesses playing their league football in National Southern division which is two divisions higher than the Fleet, who currently play in the London & South East Regional League.
This was far from the case in a very evenly fought match that kept flowing from end to end with both teams having dominate spells and creating opportunities to win the match, which was locked at 1-1 after extra time.
Ebbsfleet United started off the better of the two sides, dominating the opening stages of play they created a couple of early opportunities as striker and captain Kelly Philpott led the way, twice breaking through the Millwall defence leaving her just the keeper to beat, but was twice denied as the keeper narrowed the angle and done enough to prevent the goal.
From this early pressure Ebbslfeet ladies gained a corner, dead ball specialist Lorraine Grinyer floated a perfect cross in to the far post, which defender Rebecca Pattenden volleyed into the net, lobbing the keeper, to open the scoring for Fleet.
Lifted by the early goal Fleet continued to apply pressure and keep on top of the game, it wasn't until the final 10 minutes of the half that Millwall came alive and started to get into the game, using their pace up front to put Fleet defence and keeper under the first spells of real pressure. Fleet's keeper Faye Baker was in good form on the night and Millwall were unable to make the breakthrough despite having at least two clear chances in front of goal.
Ebbsfleet United were glad of the half time break after the defence managed to stay strong, and keep the Millwall attack at bay, leading them into the break 1-0 the good.
The second half saw a change in play where the two sides battled hard and cancelled each other out in spells, with Ebbsfleet in the fight to keep the lead and create the second opening and Millwall desperate to get back into the game. As the game progressed both teams began to tire and leave gaps and openings leading to an end to end game for the spectators to enjoy, just when Fleet may have felt they had done enough, Millwalls building attacks and some desperate defending earned Millwall a corner, Keeper Faye Baker managed to clear the cross but the ball fell to a millwall player who smashed it home from close range.
The whistle blew and two exhausted teams faced the prospect of extra time to settle the tie. Extra time showed exactly how much both teams had put into the match so far, many players were being treated for cramp and minor injuries, as they battled on, neither team created any clear chance and maybe both teams were a little nervous of pushing too far incase they left gaps at the back or making the mistake that lost them the tie. Unsurprisingly the whistle went at the end of extra time, with the game still tied at 1-1 and difficult to say which team really deserved the win which is a credit to both teams who gave everything they had on the night.
A great night for the neutral in the crowd and nail biting end for the supporters as the lottery of a penalty shootout began, Millwall stepped up first and slotted the first penalty home in far corner out of reach of the Fleet keeper, defender Vicky Moore went first for the Fleet and the keeper managed to get finger tips to the ball pushing it onto the crossbar, the next Millwall penalty was saved by Faye Baker, a lifeline for Fleet as striker Mel Bishop took her turn and buried the ball into the net. Again back to Millwall who scored their next two penalties with good strikes from the players, unfortunately Fleet ladies missed their next two with Emily Wells and Lorraine Grinyer both hitting the post. Millwall were 3-1 penalty winners on the night and reclaimed the cup, which they won last year, Kent ladies cup winners 2007/8.