Bognor Town ladies narrowly missed out on glory when they faced Lewes in the Sussex Shield final.
Having lost the draw for home advantage, Bognor knew they would be up against it.
Playing against a talented, young Lewes side, the mature Bognor team absorbed a deal of pressure from the whistle.
Captain Pat Simmonds had only one special
ist defender. Young Kim Agate and experienced Debbie Cox stepped into the breach but took a while to settle. They worked hard to contain the exuberance of the Lewes forwards.
Karen Harmer and Clare McKnight got forward well and, supported by Kyrstie Mewett, towards the close of the first half, they forced a short corner which was converted by Simmonds against the run of play.
Lewes launched everything but the kitchen sink at the makeshift Bognor defence at the start of the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser.
Bognor forced a quick short corner reply which Mewet struck with venom, but it was stopped on the line by a Lewes foot.
Bognor were unable to convert the resultant penalty flick.
In cup final fashion, the drama continued. Clare Young in goal kept the scores level, then at the Lewes end there was a disallowed goal for Bognor.
A short corner was blown for when the ball was clearly goalbound and Bognor felt a clear advantage could have been played.
Further drama came when Bognor were awarded a second penalty flick following another Lewes infringement in the D. Again the Lewes keeper kept it out.
Jude Beales and Laura Johnston worked hard putting in telling tackles and at the final whistle, the scores remained equal – forcing a penalty-flick conclusion.
After the first round of flicks were completed, the sides were still deadlocked – bringing into play sudden death.
Devastatingly for Bognor, Lewes scored the winning flick.
Debbie Cox was named player of the match and was awarded a trophy.
That added to a great performance and MOM award for son Matthew with the Chichester men's first XI, and daughter Charlotte's inclusion and successful introduction to the England under-16 squad.
* See next week's Observer for a report and picture from Chichester Centurions' Sussex Vase final.
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