Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies FC v Cascade Y.C.
Cup day! What’s the dream scenario? Underdogs go 3 up in the first half, home team battle back with a 93rd minute equaliser – and then snatch it in extra time, after throwing the kitchen sink at the lower league side- drama, skill, heart, and fight.
This was all in a days work yesterday (23/10) for Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies and Cascade YC Ladies. If there ever was a game which was truly end to end, then this was it.
It took South Wales Women’s league side Cascade a mere ten minutes to open the scoring at WPWL side’s beautiful Old Road stadium.
The autumn colours that lined to ground added an element of surrealism to whole affair in which both sides got caught up in the “magic of the cup”.
As the leaves blew across the pitch in the icy winter winds, Cascade kept the pressure on and grabbed another.
As halftime approached, BFL started to grow back into the game, regularly stretching the high defensive line of their opponents, only to be caught throwing forward with a moment of lapse concentration resulting in Cascade strutting in with a clear halfway advantage.
As the second half kicked off BFL came out flying, like a boxer out of luck on points, seeking a knockout blow – the tempo upped to eleven.
Within minutes the home side had pulled one back – the high defensive line broken, and the intensity turned up further.
Almost in the blink of an eye (or the drinking/downing of a hot beverage) a second was tidily put away.
Then the nerves set in for the away side, surely they couldn’t let slip a 3 goal lead? The orders from the touch line were “All hands on deck, behind every ball, just clear it!”
Twenty minutes to go – this was now a test of resolve, BFL throwing it all at their opponents- offside after offside, the defensive line held shape – until the 93rd minute…..
some clever link up play between Lucy Powell and Renee Day released a one on one – this was it, the last chance, goal! They joy and heartbreak ring out through the ground. Two words, cup magic.
Extra time ticked over without much fuss, both teams exhausted, a goal in the second half gave BFL the lead, but by then were already dominating the play.
Final whistle: BFL 4-3 Cascade YC
