Thorpe took the lead on 21 minutes after starting the brighter of the two teams when Rebekah Lake was on hand to hit home a rebound after Acle keeper Chloe Nixon initially made a great double save.

Boast equalised a few minutes later when she received the ball on the edge of the box, took a touch and fired in to the left of Kirstie Andrews, the Thorpe Keeper.

Andrews got her fingertips to the shot and it was enough to push it onto the post, however the ball took a wicked spin when it bounced down to the ground and cruelly bobbled into the opposite corner.

Boast delivered a lethal set piece moments later and Rose Glendinning was on hand to steer the ball in from close range. The Assistant Referee however adjudged Acle’s Jo Hooper to be obstructing the Thorpe keeper and the goal was ruled out.

It was on the 45 minute mark that Thorpe delivered a sucker punch to the A’s after just having their goal disallowed. Charlotte Groves did well to bring a long ball down on her chest, and managed to steer it past Nixon as she came out to save.

It looked like Thorpe were going to take their lead into the half time break, however Boast stepped up to take a free kick in the 2^nd minute of first half stoppage time. She curled the ball to the left of the keeper with a fantastic strike that made the game all square at the break.

The game lost momentum throughout the second half with neither team wanting to over commit players forward. However Thorpe came close when a dangerous cross from Hayley Kindred was met by Lake but the forward’s header bounced off the post and straight to the grateful Nixon.

Extra time was more of the same, with both teams being on the defensive and even though Thorpe had more chances, penalties looked on the cards. This proved to be the case.

Nixon was the difference in the shootout, saving the first two of Thorpe’s shots. Acle converted each of their first three kicks which allowed Imogen Williams to step up and win the game for the A’s.

Thorpe will  feel deflated considering the chances they had, and Acle will be thankful for Nixon’s shoot out performance, however either team could have won it in normal time and both will be proud of the performance they gave.

Final Score: Thorpe United 2 – 2 Acle United (2-2 A.E.T – Acle win 4-1 on Penalties)

Line ups:

Thorpe United: Kirstie Andrews, Nicole Read, Shannon Miles, Alice Ford, Alice Ladbrooke, Kim Broom (C), Hayley Kindred, Kirstie Kindred, Charlotte Groves, Rebekah Lake & Judith Bloomfield.

Subs: Chelsea Clark, Natasha Evans, Charlotte Chandler.

Acle United: Chloe Nixon, Gemma Bovington, Georgina Beckwith, Joanna Hooper, Leah McGuire, Helen Emmerson (C), Rose Glendinning, Natasha Greenfield, Jenna Thurtle, Francesca Lambert & Sharnie Boast.

Subs: Aishatu Shaibu, Imogen Williams, Elizabeth Danson.

Referee: Neil Jacques

Assistants: Anthony Bond & Andrew Cornwall

Fourth Official: Paul Roe

Player of the Match: Rose Glendinning