Raffel brace fires SSFC Women to NERWFL League Cup Final
- Tyler Elleanor
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Julie Raffel's brace - which included a late winner - sent South Shields Women to the NERWFL League Cup Final against Birtley Town Ladies on Thursday night.
The Mariners' evening got off to a flyer, thanks to Raffel’s 19th minute opener, but unfortunately for the hosts, a comfortable victory wasn't in store as with 12 minutes remaining, Nichole Havery struck the visitors level.
It caused a nervy finish for both sides, until Raffel took the game by the scruff of the neck and barraged home the ball from a set-piece with just three minutes remaining.
Coming into the game, Shields were as confident as ever and in impeccable scoring form.
Their last outing was a six goal demolition against Ossett United Women, which saw Madison Bouggess score four goals out of Shields' five.
Undoubtedly, Bouggess was one of the first names on the home teamsheet and she would be looking to pick up another goal or two to help them on their way to the Final.
The hosts began fantastically well, creating two big chances in the opening minutes of the game - the first of which saw top-scorer Bouggess turn provider, as she chested the ball down before rolling it to Kelsi Hoot who smashed an effort at goal, however it strayed high and wide.
The latter chance came six minutes later, and this time Bouggess was back to her usual business, causing havoc in-behind.
Despite the Mariners' forward being in a one-on-one situation, they failed to capitalise as Karley Taylor made a last-ditch interception.
Soon after though, the hosts got their breakthrough.
Faye Killeen played a delightful ball around the corner into Raffel, who cut inside and rifled the ball with a left-footed effort towards the near post which beat Erin Cockburn and opened the deadlock.
The next big chance within the clash fell, again, Shields' way, merely seconds into the second-half.
Kylie Scarpiello received the ball down the left, immediately looked up and struck the ball towards goal, but Cockburn pulled off a comfortable save.
And then with just 21 minutes to go, the Mariners got extremely unfortunate when the referee awarded Birtley Town a penalty kick.
Diving astonishingly to her left side and guessing right was Anna Yeakey, who made the crucial penalty save to keep the one-goal advantage intact.
Soon after, however, their lead was damaged, when Havery slotted her finish into the bottom corner in the 78th minute.
Nonetheless, this didn’t affect the Mariners, because with three minutes to go, one set-piece was all they needed to make sure they reached the League Cup Final.
A beautiful ball was clipped into the box from Hoot, met aggressively but delicately by Raffel, and it flew into the roof of the net to seal the incredible win for Shields.
They will face the winner of next week's tie between Leeds Modernians Women, and Bradford City AFC Women, in the NERWFL League Cup Final - full details to be revealed soon.
South Shields Women: Yeakey, Simpson, May, Robinson, Killeen, Wootten, Pine, Hoot, Scarpiello, Bouggess, Raffel.
Substitutes: Hill, Miller (both did not play).
Goals: Raffel (19', 87').
Birtley Town Ladies: Cockburn, Clarke, Prudhoe, Taylor, Donelan, C. Mole, Sewell, Henderson, Havery, Curtis, White.
Substitutes: Curry, Winship, Allison, O. Mole.
Goals: Havery (78').
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