SSFC Women advance to semi-finals of County Cup with penalty shoot-out win against Sunderland West End

South Shields Women advanced to the semi-final of the DCFA Women’s Cup with a penalty shoot-out victory against Sunderland West End Ladies on Sunday.

The Mariners were tied at 1-1 after 90 minutes, when Eve Gatens’ opener was cancelled out late on by Pavanjot Kaur following a corner.

All it took was one saved penalty for the shoot-out to be decided, given all five of Shields’ takers scored - Josie Foster delivered the winning penalty to send her side through.

It should be a welcome Christmas present for Alex Miller’s team, who now have a three week winter break to look forward to.

A downbeat first-half quietened things after the drama in which the last game between the two sides was contested.

There was a shortage of goals this time out, which owed to the fact it was a cup quarter-final and perhaps there was more caution in the way the teams would play against each other.

Despite that fact, Shields piled the pressure on and they came close numerous times before they ultimately did. 

Jaz Elliott-Wood did well, in the early stages, to fire a ball over the top of the West End defence through to Annece Legg who misfired as she was through on goal.

Goalkeeper Summer Sawyer did well to stop that, as well as the other build-up attacks which ended up on her to-do list.

Gatens tried her luck from long-range at one point and she did everything but score! 

It was just one of those halves, where a lot went well, but Miller reflected afterwards and said the team just wasn’t at its clinical best, like it had done in games gone by at times. 

Nevertheless, Gatens would be the one to give Shields the lead when she tucked inside and guided her aim for the bottom-right corner in the 65th minute.

That lead would be made up for late on when Pavanjot Kaur poked in a touch in the 87th minute, after a corner routine for the visitors led to trouble at the back for Shields.

The nail biting conclusion of a penalty shoot-out followed. Shields fans will remember the historic win against Halifax FC Women in the Women’s FA Cup on penalties last month.

Both players and staff alike wanted to replicate the feat - and they did! 

Shields will find out their opponents in the final four of the County Cup soon, with the remaining quarter-final leg between Norton Ladies and Durham Cestria to be decided next month. 

Already qualified, however, are Gateshead FC Ladies and Chester-le-Street Town Ladies. 

Next up for the lasses after the winter break is Bradford City AFC Women at home on Sunday, January 5th, 2025, with full details to be confirmed closer to matchday. 

South Shields Women: Gowans, May, Greener, Legg, Gatens, Wootten, England, McMahon, Elliott-Wood, Jota, Foster. 

Substitutes: Mole, White, Naylor, Abusada, Longstaff. 

Goals: Gatens (65’). 

Sunderland West End Ladies: Sawyer, Jones, Ellison, Hutchinson, Dodds, Ross, Kaur, Simpson, Smith, Minnis, O’Leary. 

Substitutes: Howe. 

Goals: Kaur (87’).