Match Photographer: James Williamson
Match Highlights Courtesy of In-Play Sports
Match Report by Jamie Griffiths

Buxton Juniors and Ladies beat Wirksworth Colts Ladies on penalties to make history; becoming the first team to win the DCFA Women's Plate.

Wirksworth made a bright start to the game, Jo Lamb tested the keeper with a deep cross that headed towards goal, which was well held by Buxton's Georgia Williams, before Vicki Sheldon fired an effort just wide of the right hand post and Grace Bradbury hit a dipping effort over the bar moments later.

Buxton's best chance of the half came after 16 minutes when Jess Jordan sent a free kick from twenty yards wide of the left hand post.

The game became a bit of a midfield battle which led to Wirksworth trying their luck from range, first Sammy Woolley hit a left footed effort over the bar before Grace Bradbury fired an effort from long range only to see Williams save well.

Buxton saw a great opportunity go begging when they were denied by a fantastic last ditch tackle as Natasha Lindley brilliantly worked her way into the box. The ball was then worked back outside the box where Jordan was fouled but the resulting free kick was curled over by Lindley. 

Half Time: Wirksworth Colts Ladies 0 Buxton Juniors and Ladies 0

Wirksworth really came out of the blocks in the second half and had several opportunities to win the game. First Sammy Woolley tested the keeper from the edge of the box which Williams grabbed at the second attempt.

They were then just seconds away from opening the scoring when a clearance from the keeper rebounded off of a player, directing the ball towards an open goal, but Shaniah Mason managed to cover her teammate and clear off of the line.

Elizabeth Whittall headed the ball wide after a cross from the left before a dipping effort from the right was saved well underneath the crossbar by Williams.

The woodwork was then called into action, much to the delight of Buxton, when a corner from the right was headed on into the six yard box with the following shot being directed onto the bar.

Wirksworth did their all to score, but just couldn't find the net and after Romy Wilson had an acrobatic effort saved and Sonya Betts sent an effort wide after racing through the defence, the game went to penalties.

Both sides converted their first penalties but Williams saved Wirksworth's second to give Buxton the lead. Each player then kept their nerve from the spot with the score 4-3 to Buxton after four spot kicks.

One more successful effort from the spot would have sealed the game for Buxton, but Sofia Morrissey hit the left hand post and Georgia Winson puts hers into the bottom right corner to level it up.

With the scores level at 7 a piece after eight penalties, Buxton's Jenna Cox had her penalty saved meaning Wirksworth could seal a trophy win by scoring next. Wirksworth's Ellie Wood stepped up and hit the upright to keep a dramatic shootout going.

Megan Pritchard put Buxton ahead once again, before Wirksworth had a nervous moment when Williams got a strong hand to Alicia Winson's spot kick, only for it to still find the bottom left hand corner.

The decisive moment was to come in the next round of penalties however, as after Amy Taylor placed her penalty into the bottom right hand corner for Buxton, Katy Siddall, Wirksworth's keeper, fired her penalty over the bar to confirm Buxton's victory - 9-8 on penalties!

Full Time: Wirksworth Colts Ladies 0 Buxton Junior and Ladies 0 (8-9 on Penalties)