Bowers & Pitsea and Buckhurst Hill (Lionesses) required a tense penalty shootout to separate them in the Essex Under 16s Girls Cup Final, Bowers eventually winning 4-1 on spot kicks after extra time at Aveley FC.

Lilly Crawford struck home the winning penalty to spark relief and jubilation amongst her team mates in a match where both teams’ goalkeepers, Dalia Wyszczelska for Bowers and Evie Achamfour-Yeboah for Buckhurst Hill, excelled.

Buckhurst Hill are opposition Bowers are becoming very familiar with - they’ve still got to play each other a couple more times in key fixtures before the season is over. Shane Windess, Bowers & Pitsea Manager, was full of praise for both teams at full time: “We do it the hard way, but all credit to Buckhurst Hill. They’ve always been a good side. I mean, they beat us twice last season, quite easily, becoming one of our bogey teams, to be fair.”

“They are a superb bunch of girls. They played some really good football today and we were under the cosh for some of it, but we managed to come through it and we win on penalties. It’s not the nicest way to go and win a game but, obviously, somebody has to be on the receiving end of the loss. But all credit to Buckhurst Hill - they were brilliant.”

There were chances at both ends in the opening dozen minutes of this well-contested final. And only a fantastic 25th-minute tackle from Buckhurst Hill’s Daisy Sherrin, as the last line of defence, prevented Emme Fisher from running clean through on goal. This was the main activity of a first half where the teams cancelled each other out.

The next opportunity didn’t arrive until the hour mark, as it remained a competitive match without too many clearcut chances. Bowers’ Evie Harris half-volleyed straight at Hill stopper Achamfour-Yeboah. The match then started to open up, with Bowers spending more time in their opposition’s half. Ruby Avery’s shot rolled narrowly wide of the foot of the near post.

It was still goalless at full time, and the sides both had openings to score during the extra 20 minutes. Bowers’ K-Leigh Petchey had a sight of goal from a few yards, but her effort was tipped over the crossbar by Achamfour-Yeboah.

Then it was Bowers ‘keeper Wyszczelska’s time to be the hero, preventing Jasleen Bhamber with a block at the other end. Later on, Bowers’ Crawford just missed the near post from a few yards, as time ticked away and penalties were required to decide the winners.

Windess was relieved his team narrowly got over the line in the final, and he looked ahead to the rest of the season, summarising: “Anything can happen on the day if we show our quality. We had some cracking chances through the game to score and so did they, to be fair, but we just didn’t put those chances away, and then it goes to penalties. They’re all continuing their development. They’re enjoying themselves. They’re all bouncing about now!”

“But now it’s time to refocus. We go into next week’s [League Cup] semi-final against Buckhurst Hill, funnily enough, and we have to go and do a job there. It’s difficult currently - we’re unbeaten in the league as well - and we want to go on to win that as well. So, we’ve got plenty on for us. Today’s a great day, but now we’ve got to knuckle down, and get back on to the next one.”

Bowers & Pitsea: Dalia Wyszczelska, Poppy White, Lilly Crawford, Francesca Byron, Evie Harris, Emme Fisher, Ruby Avery, Amelia Luis, Scarlett Scott, Billie-Jo Williams, Indigo Lee. Substitutes: Amelia Pavitt, Rebecca Freeland, K-Leigh Petchey, Lacey Windess, Madeleine Stanton. Manager: Shane Windess.

Buckhurst Hill (Lionesses): Evie Achamfour-Yeboah, Charlotte English, Ava O’Reilly, Sophie Bradley, Florence Bates, Jessica Hazell, Malayasia Rattray, Anya Ali, Kristella Mikeli, Lexi-Mae Yeo, Daisy Sherrin. Substitutes: Jasleen Bhamber, Millie Blain, Ciara Weekes. Manager: James Bradley.

Referee: James Holloway.

Assistant Referees: Archie Mansfield and Sam Bridges.

Fourth Official: Joseph Eames.

Attendance: 265.

Photos: Tiego Grenho.