By Jeff Burnige at Princes Park
The Lionesses were involved in a titanic semi-final in the London & South East Women’s Regional League Cup against Dartford last Sunday in front a crowd of around 300.
Still struggling with a long injury list, and with three sixteen-year-olds selected, they conceded a heart-breaking 119th-minute goal, just as a penalty shoot-out looked certain.
Second-place Dartford are twelve points ahead of the Lionesses in the Premier League, but Millwall had beaten them at home back in November.
Alyssa Miranda, recalled to the side, fired Millwall ahead after 30 minutes with a great shot as she raced forward down the right.
Manager Jack Wheeler switched to a back four for this match, and young goalkeeper Serena Hand was kept very busy by the experienced Dartford forwards, but her handling was very sound throughout.
Dartford’s Emily Vaughan finally beat her after 65 minutes, but the Millwall central defenders Amy Nash and Libby Stubbs, together with outstanding full-backs Sophie Chapman and Millie Connell, made sure there were no more scares, and the match moved into a thrilling period of extra-time.
After 115 minutes, Liz O’Callaghan’s shot from the edge of the box flew narrowly wide with the keeper beaten.
But then with both managers thinking about who would be taking penalties, Paris Smith’s free header from a left-wing cross gave Dartford the lead for the first time.
Their experience showed as the five minutes of stoppage-time was spent almost entirely with the hosts keeping the ball in the Millwall corner, to break Lionesses hearts.
Overall, Dartford did deserve the victory, but the young Lionesses will have taken a lot of positives from this big occasion.
Millwall are back at St Paul’s in Rotherhithe this Sunday against a very strong Fulham team. Kick-off is 2pm and admission is free.