Bretforton 2, Harborne 2 (aet)

Harborne won sudden-death shoot-out

AN AGONISING Sunday setback saw Bretforton fail to make progress in the Women's Trophy Knockout competition.

Extra-time and five penalty flicks failed to separate the sides and it finally the visitors who scored the deciding goal from the spot to end the village side's hopes of progress.

Strong play from both sides had earlier seen chances at both ends but it was Harborne who struck first after 20 minutes.

This goal only served to spur on the villagers and a short corner led to Sophie Corbett making it 1-1.

Blanche Surman and Bobbie Handley defended solidly to keep out the visiting attack and their efforts paid off when Lisa Workman and Sarah Adam set up Corbett for a second before the break.

However, despite a string of fine stops from Fiona Baldelli, Harborne levelled and Bretforton were unable to grab the winner despite the promptings of Work-man and Tracy Hodgkins.

The "golden goal" never happened and, after Adam and Julie Stowe had scored in the shoot-out and Baldelli made more excellent stops, Harborne snatched the crucial goal to end home hopes.

There was more disappointment against Gloucester after Andrea Cole had levelled an earlier opener.

Only the Gloucester goalkeeper prevented Bretforton bagging more goals in the first half but the villagers were guilty of several misses the break when a short corner provided Gloucester with a winner.