Cheltenham U18’s 2 Cirencester Ladies U18s 2 (Cirencester won 3-4 on penalties)

Cirencester Town Ladies came from 2-0 down to win the Gloucestershire County Challenge Cup final on penalties.

Cirencester were without captain Libby Messenger who missed her first game in five seasons.

Cheltenham took the lead within five minutes with a well taken goal. Cirencester grew into the game and on the half hour mark the Cheltenham striker found herself one-on-one with Cirencester keeper Alex Hobbs who made a brilliant save to keep them in the game.

Two minutes later Alex came out brave again to collect the ball and a Cheltenham striker collided with her cutting her lip and receiving a knock to the head and she was unable to continue and sub Karen Messenger had to pull on the keeper shirt. Just before the half time whistle Cheltenham went 2-0 up.

Cirencester started the second half perfectly as Emily Wilson found herself in space to strike an unstoppable shot right into the net. Half way through the half, Wilson found herself in the same position and mirrored her first goal with another fantastic strike.

The last 10 minutes was end to end but the game went to penalties. Bec Brannon, Wilson and Charlie Brewster all scored their penalties, with Cheltenham’s third taker missing hers before Ciren’s fourth was saved so all was level at 3-3. Cheltenham's fifth taker shot hers over the bar so Freya Sullivan stepped up to score the decisive spot kick to win the trophy for Cirencester.