Glebe won the Kent FA Women’s Plate final, defeating Maidstone 4 -3 on penalties after a close encounter that finished 1-1 in full time at the Gallagher Stadium.

Both sides had plenty of chances throughout the match and the final 20 minutes of normal time saw the game spring to life as Lena Ransom’s close range opener was cancelled out by Alice Grandpierre’s late header. 

There were fewer chances in extra time, with Glebe striker Jeanie Keable and Maidstone forward Amanda Beeput both going closest and Glebe keeper Jody Lazell stepped up and took the decisive spot kick, winning the cup final for Glebe.

Maidstone had the first chance on four minutes when Abigail Spragg’s flicked header bounced just wide.

Glebe were on the attack minutes later and Laura Donnoly’s looping cross from the left flank almost caught out Stones goalkeeper Nicole Davies at the near post.

But Maidstone grew into the game and Carly Farrow almost opened the scoring on 15 minutes. She raced through one on one with Jody Lazell but her curling shot skimmed the outside of the post. 

The Stones then created a host of chances before half time. Farrow tried to play in Amanda Beeput at the far post and her shot was almost turned into the net by the recovering Gelebe defence. Beeput then hit the crossbar after her dipping free-kick from 30 yards beat a scrambling Lazell and cannoned off the woodwork. 

Farrow carved out an opening seconds before half time, controlling well at the back post, but a sea of red shirts quickly closed down the danger and blocked the shot to keep the scores level at the break.

It was Glebe who came out in the second half with more intent, counter attacking quickly down the left wing and playing in Jordan Springett, who curled her shot just over the bar from the edge of the area. 

Glebe then took the lead on 68 minutes when Maidstone defender Abigail Spragg attempted to deal with a long ball forward but her clearance looped the ball over goalkeeper Davies and winger Leana Ransom followed the ball in and tapped into an empty net.

Ransom had the ball in the net again with 10 minutes remaining, shooting low underneath Davies from a tight angle, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside. 

Maidstone took full advantage and equalised on 82 minutes as Alice Grandpierre leapt highest to head Alex Ibaceta’s long free-kick into the bottom right corner. 

The Stones almost grabbed the win in the dying seconds when Beput raced into Glebe’s penalty area and dinked the ball past Lazell but Glebe’s defence cleared before the ball crossed the line. 

The game went to extra time and both sides went on the attack immediately, with Ransom going close for Glebe before Skilton raced through at opposite end and forced a smart save from Lazell.

Jeanie Keable was agonizingly close to scoring for Glebe six minutes into extra time after she beat Mairdstone’s offside trap and lobbed the ball over Davies but it bounced millimeters wide.  

Glebe almost restored their lead 20 minutes into extra time when Ellie Beere’s low corner evaded everyone and was cleared off the line. 

After 120 minutes of play, the match went to penalties. Both sets of players held their nerves early on before Jeanie Keable and Gina Riley missed for either side. Carly Farrow then shot wide for Maidstone with the scores at 3-3.

Glebe goalkeeper Jody Lazell stepped up to take the deciding kick and made no mistake, lashing her shot into the top right corner. 

Final Score

Maidstone: 1 (3) (Grandpierre, 82) 

Glebe FC: 1 (4) (Ransom, 67)

Teams:

Maidstone: Nicole Davies, Ellisha Duffield Goodyear, Abigail Spragg, Rachel Brewer, Megan Gill, Addy Kemp, Alice Grandpierre, Laura Howard, Lucy Harrington, Carly Farrow, Amanda Beeput.

Subs: Beth Kemp, Abbie Skilton, Gina Riley, Charlotte Cresswell, Alex Ibaceta, Keeley Butler, Emma Harrington.

Glebe FC: Jody Lazell, Laura Donnolly, Lee-Anne Beaney, Hannah McNamara, Jeanie Keable, Jordan Springett, Katie Waters, Ellie Beere, Cydney King, Alex Fagan, Leana Ransom.

Subs: Katrina Li, Katryn Esson, Sophie Jalowski, Danielle Brown, Amy Davis, Hannah Fox, Hayley Irving.

Officials: Jamie Turner (referee), Paul Stevens (assistant), Phil Gower (assistant), Bart Chmielecki (fourth official).

Pictures supplied by PSP Images.