Heroine Shields saves BCL’s day
EMERGENCY goalkeeper Catherine Shields was heroine of the day for Wallsend BCL.
She saved three penalties in the shoot-out to help her side overcome champions Norton and Stockton Ancients and reach the League Cup final.
The match had ended 1-1 after extra time as Wallsend denied the Teessiders the chance of the double - booking their second cup final appearance of the season in the process.
Wallsend nearly took an early lead when Elizabeth Campbell’s shot hit the post before stand-in goalkeeper Shields produced her first save, her fingertips pushing a Chloe Buckley effort over the bar.
Laura Foad went close, narrowly shooting over as a first half of few clear-cut chances ended goalless.
Eight minutes after the restart the deadlock was broken when a through ball by Anna Mawston split the hosts’ defence wide open and Sian Williams confidently slotted home.
The lead was to last only two minutes, however, as Foad’s shot was blocked by Gemma Gibson but the referee decided she used a hand - to the disbelief of the Norton players.
Jade Clark took the responsibility to level the scores and calmly placed her shot into the bottom corner.
Both sides went close as they pushed for a winner, Norton’s appeal for a penalty waved away as the whistle blew for the end of 90 minutes.
After the extra 30 minutes the teams could still not be separated and the game would be decided on penalties.
Wallsend saw their first penalty rebound off the post, Clark not successful a second time, but Shields saved the fourth Norton penalty - leaving the score at 4-4 after five kicks.
Clark, Claire Bridgett, Emily Tate and Foad all converted after the early miss.
The penalty shoot-out then moved into sudden death, Michaela McHugh keeping her nerve to net, Norton replying.
Jennifer Brennan scored her penalty, Norton again levelling.
Lauren Crellin saw her kick saved, leaving Shields needing to save Norton’s penalty - and she did to deny them victory.
Julie Duggan despatched her penalty to make it 7-6 and Shields kept out Norton’s ninth kick.
Wallsend BCL now add the League Cup final to their Northumberland FA County Cup decider next month.