BATEMAN BAGS DECISIVE PENALTY IN CUP EPIC

Thursday April 8th 2010: Cornwall League St.Austell Trophies Cup quarter-final - Penzance 2-2 Truro City (aet, Pz won 4-2 on pens)
(Britten pen, Redd. Penalty shoot-out: Britten, Redd, Whittaker, Bateman)

An epic cup match on Thursday eventually saw Penzance Ladies progress to the semi-finals of the Cornwall St.Austell Trophies League Cup, with a win on penalties against Truro City, which was not concluded until 10.30pm!
The Magpies had taken a 35th-minute lead from the spot, Candice Britten converting the penalty, in a half where neither keeper was really challenged.
But tension grew as the night wore on, with the visitors hitting the post before equalising on 62 minutes. Penzance came close on several occasions to restoring their lead, firstly with a great Dawn Bateman header from Katie Whittaker's corner, which was cleared off the line. Kat Redd was unfortunate to see her run and cross end with a deflection to the keeper and also had a strong shot charged down. Bateman made a vital interception to halt LB Reeks bearing down on goal and the last effort of normal times saw Nicki Ellis drop a shot narrowly over the Truro bar.
The first period of extra-time saw Aimee Ellis set up Redd but the keeper turned her shot over the top. Truro then took the lead on 102 minutes, beating Candice Britten, who had replaced Grace Rudlin between the sticks.
The drama excelerated in the final 15 minutes, Redd won Penzance another penalty but Britten's shot was comfortably kept out. However, shortly after in the 119th minute, Redd's audacious looping effort from the left flank beat the keeper and dropped just under the bar to tie the game. The Magpies then threatened a winner on a few occasions, the keeper fumbling Redd's cross with Sorcha Dean closing in, Redd also hit the post and Whittaker was denied by the bar.
But penalties were required to seperate the sides, Britten, Redd and Whittaker all netted but Rudlin's strike was well saved. Truro fired one narrowly over and Britten saved well from Reeks. Bateman tucked her spot-kick neatly into the corner, to send Penzance through 4-2 in the shoot-out and they now go to Marazion in the semi-finals on April 18th.
Penzance: Rudlin; Bateman, Matthews, C.Fitzgerald; Whittaker, N.Ellis, A.Ellis, Harvey, Lavertu; Britten, Dean.