C&K BASILDON Ladies upset the odds when they beat Queens Park Rangers in the FA Women’s Premier League Cup second round in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

C&K got the better of QPR – who play in the Premier League Southern Division, one step higher than Basildon – in a thrilling penalty shoot-out, The win continued Basildon’s fine league form, which has seen them pick up eight wins on the bounce and ensured they advance to the third round of the competition.

A goal from Zoe Rushen had given the visitors the advantage but that only lasted three minutes before the game went to extra-time and penalties.

C&K started well and had the first opportunity with the match 20 minutes old. Hannah Porter released Sara Sinclair but her fierce shot clipped the top of the crossbar before being cleared away.

The lively Sinclair was in the middle of the action moments later after heading over the goalkeeper and in after good work from Claire Lacey and Amy Nash – only to see the flag go up.

Karissa Rodney had another shot go narrowly wide in a first half dominated by the visitors.

But away stopper Mel Kinsalla was called into action moments after the break when she was made a fine save and moments later the deadlock was broken.

A free-kick from Rushen beat the wall and flew into the corner of the net.

But that lead only lasted three minutes as Kasha Petit converted a penalty for QPR, to bring the scores level Rushen and Merrick Will both had shots saved late in the second half, but with no more goals, the game went into extra time.

The best opportunity of the added 30 minutes came when Rushen saw her goal-bound shot blocked on the line.

And in the penalty shoot-out it was Kinsella that was the hero, saving two penalties, leaving Kathleen Clifton to fire into the top corner, and send Basildon into the next round.

Basildon: Kinsalla, Will, Porter, Lacey (Lawler), Clifton, Rushen, Stephanou, Eagles, Rodney (Shafier), Sinclair, Nash

 

BILLERICAY TOWN LADIES THROW AWAY THREE GOAL LEAD

BILLERICAY Town Ladies drew 3-3 with Leverstock Green in an end-to-end battle that saw the visitors throw away a three goal lead.

Goals from Steph Poleykett and Fran Murphy, as well as an own goal, had put Town in command but three goals in the final 20 minutes saw the home side storm back to claim a point.

Billericay started the game on top and could have been several goals up before they did eventually take the lead in the 35th minute.

And it was a tremendous strike from Poleykett that put the away side in charge, driving in from 35 yards after neat build-up play.

Good combination play between Marie Barker and Murphy saw Town double their advantage moments later – Murphy’s cross striking a home defender and flying into the net.

And as half-time approached, a Billericay corner fell to Murphy and her shot beat the goalkeeper after zipping through a crowd of bodies.

Town’s stand-in goalkeeper Hayley Piggott was called into action early in the second half but preserved the three goal lead until the clock ticked past 70 minutes.

It was then that Leverstock struck three well created goals before hitting the post as they threatened to take the game away from Billericay.

Billericay also found the back of the net but the flag was raised.

Manager Kim Coster said: “We travelled again without a keeper, which was always going to be a challenge, and a big thank you to Hayley Piggott for stepping in between the sticks.

“We had enough chances to win the game in the first half but fair play to Leverstock. They never gave up took their chances extremely well.

Billericay Town Ladies: Piggott, Roberts (Bowman), Wilson, Dunne, (Chappell), Darling (Reeve), Whitehead , Spallin (S. Smith) Robins, Barker