Town snatch dramatic win (From Gazette Series)

Town snatch dramatic win

GFA Women's Challenge Cup Preliminary Round Dursley Town Ladies 2 Oldland Abbotonians Ladies 1 (After extra time)

DURSLEY twice hit dramatic late goals to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and proceed to the next round of the county cup.

In fairness, opponents Oldland Abbotonians were without five players on duty with the Gloucestershire FA XI, but they still brought a squad full of ability to the Rec on Sunday.

Town made a great start with Julianne Farragher shooting just wide inside two minutes, while Emma Kent worked Gemma Close in the Oldland goal soon afterwards.

The visitors had attacks of their own but it was Dursley that were on top, Farragher running almost the length of the pitch before being dispossessed and Kent shooting into the side netting after being set up by Francesca Stroud.

In the second half, the home side continued to force the pace but they could not make the breakthrough and were punished with 20 minutes to go.

Lisa Frampton broke clear of the Town defence and calmly beat Town goalkeeper Jodie Turl with a well-placed shot.

But driven on by captain Maddy Hamilton, Dursley went in search of the equaliser.

Farragher again threatened and, after being brought down on the edge of the box, she narrowly missed from the resultant free-kick.

However, Town got the goal they deserved with just a minute left on the clock.

Substitute Charlotte Palmer, who had linked up well with the strikers after coming on at half-time, was upended in the area by Louise Walter and the referee pointed to the spot.

Close saved Farragher's spot kick but the tall striker followed up to crash home a dramatic equaliser that sent the game into extra time.

The two tiring teams gave their all in extra time, with Andrea Bonser, Sally Ash and Judith Welsh working particularly hard for the hosts.

However, with a penalty shootout just two minutes away, Amy Humble found Farragher and her shot was handled in the box for a second Dursley penalty.

Farragher again stepped up and this time she made no mistake to seal a deserved victory.

Dursley: J Turl, M Hamilton, S Ash, S Miles, J Welsh (Ellen Kent 110), Emma Kent (A Humble 85), A Bonser, F Stroud, E Leahey, A Chivers (C Palmer 45), J Farragher. Goals: Farragher (90 & pen 119).