Penrith Ladies are through to the third qualifying round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
They produced a superb performance, full of character, to turn around a two-goal deficit before snatching a dramatic injury time winner against higher league Wallsend Women.
The Penrith side can now look forward to hosting another higher league side, Tranmere Rovers on October 13.
Wallsend started the game at a very high tempo which Penrith struggled to cope with and this led to uncharacteristic errors.
The hosts kept winning possession in the Penrith half and were looking a threat right from the start.
They quickly capitalised on two errors and were clinical to take a 2-0 lead within the first 15 minutes.
Penrith were really ‘on the ropes’ at this point and showed great resilience just to stay in the game as Wallsend pressed hard for further goals.
Penrith changed formation, using more players in the midfield area and gradually they started to settle into the game.
There was a blow though when top scorer Jodie English had to be taken off due to injury and was replaced by Jess Nelson who was instructed to hold the ball and retain possession in the forward areas.
Penrith started to have some success on the counter-attack and in the 40th minute they scored to get themselves back into the game. Youngster Ellie Gallacher slid the ball through to Nelson and after her first effort was saved by the keeper she fired the rebound into the net.
After the start they had made this was a huge boost for Penrith just before the half time break.
Straight from the kick-off for the second-half Penrith attacked quickly. Carly Green’s ball over the top picked out Gallacher who had timed her run perfectly. She coolly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper to level up at 2-2.
Penrith were boosted by this equaliser and were now looking like the more confident team while Wallsend’s confidence seemed to be draining away.
The second-half remained tight, with both sides having chances, but as the clock ran down they seemed to become more nervy with the prospect looming of a penalty shoot-out at 90 minutes.
Then, with the game deep into injury time, Gallacher broke clear on the right wing. She remained composed and cut back an excellent cross into the path of Nelson who side footed into the net with virtually the final kick of the game.
It was the first time that Penrith had led in the game, but it was certainly the right time after an unbelievable effort from the whole traveling squad to come out on top against a very good Wallsend team.
