County glory for Buxton ladies

Up against a side from the division above, Buxton battled on, despite losing two key players to injury - Jess Jordan and captain Rebecca Beresford - during the game, for a 0-0 draw and then won the trophy 9-8 from the spot.

It was a first senior County FA Cup final win in the club’s 44-year history.

As expected, Wirksworth were on top for the majority of the game but found Buxton’s keeper and Player of the Game Georgia Williams in incredible form as she pulled off several excellent saves including three from just under the crossbar and one from an overhead kick from the edge of the box.

Near the end of a thrilling, tense game with the game going straight to penalties, Buxton made changes in order to get the penalty takers on.

Having gambled at the end the ladies now had to change their predicted line up for penalties having lost Jordan and Beresford.

The toss saw Buxton go first with Joy Hodgkinson taking one step and into the bottom corner, setting the tone for what was to follow. Wirksworth made it 1-1 and Laura Lloyd then made it 2-1 before Williams dived to her left saved the next.

Natasha Lindley made it 3-1, which became 3-2 before Emily Jones made it 4-2.

Wirksworth scored to make it 4-3 leaving Sofia Morrissey to possibly win it for the ladies.

Her strike was well hit and almost perfect but bounced off the post and with the next one Wirksworth levelled it at 4-4.

Sudden death then ensued as Charlotte Allerton calmly made it 5-4. Wirksworth levelled, keeper Williams made it 6-5, and Wirksworth squared it up once again.

Jenna Cox then stepped up and the keeper saved leaving the ladies on the brink of defeat only to see spirits raised as Wirksworth put the next one wide of Walker’s right post.

The shoot-out continued as Faye Barton netted and Megan Pritchard saw kicks equalised to make it 8-8.

Amy Taylor then drilled in the ladies’ 11th penalty and finally the Wirksworth keeper blazed over to see the ladies win in dramatic style.