Penybont United are spot on in Cup clash

Penybont United overcame Talgarth Town 3-1 on penalties after their Central Wales Ladies Cup first round tie ended in a 1-1 draw at The Racecourse.

Both teams were making their debut in the competition and coming face-to-face in a competitive fixture for the first time.

Talgarth had the first clear opportunity in the fourth minute, following a firmly struck backpass by Becky Christopher to her sister Katie in the Penybont goal, which saw Molly Akin pounce on the loose ball but she was denied by the home keeper.

Cathy Harris responded for the Polecats five minutes later but directed her low shot wide of the target from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

The Royals thought they might have been awarded a penalty for a challenge on Jess Burdon in the 16th minute before Chloe Colley's shot from the edge of the penalty area was blocked.

O'Shea's 20-yard strike was saved by Katie Christopher in the 24th minute prior to Colley heading wide of the target from a corner less than 60 seconds later.

Penybont midfielder Gemma Bradford directed a 25-yard strike wide of goal prior to Jade Maddy cutting inside from the left and directing a shot straight into the hands of Katie Christopher.

O'Shea tested the hands of the Polecats' goalkeeper with a free-kick in the 32nd minute.

Jade Perry was picked out by a through ball five minutes later but directed her effort straight at Katie Christopher.

The visiting Royals opened the scoring in the final minute of the first-half when Maddy headed home from a Perry corner.

Wardon fired an effort narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area in first-half stoppage-time as her team held a slender advantage at the interval.

Burdon latched on to a through ball in the opening minute of the second-half but was denied by a smart save from Katie Christopher. The Penybont keeper was called into action three minutes later to deny Perry.

The former Aberystwyth Town goalkeeper was demonstrating her experience in the early stages after the break as she was called into action again in the 52nd minute to deny O'Shea.

Katie Christopher made an even better save five minutes later to turn the ball over the crossbar as O'Shea appeared destined to double the lead for the Breconshire club.

Perry's attempted lob was saved by Katie Christopher on the hour mark before Lauren Bradford had an effort blocked in the Royals' penalty area seven minutes later.

Burdon's 70th-minute effort from the edge of the penalty area was saved by Katie Christopher before Talgarth substitute goalkeeper Taran Fitzgerald was called into action four minutes later to deny Cathy Harris.

Katie Christopher was called into action again in the 78th minute to deny O'Shea before Lauren Bradford fired an effort over the crossbar from a cross on the left flank.

Gemma Bradford went close with an 25-yard free-kick in the 85th minute as it was beginning to appear that Maddy's goal would be enough to seal victory for the Royals.

However, Harris had other ideas as she chased a hopeful ball played forward curled a 25-yard strike past Fitzgerald to send the match to a penalty shoot-out.

The Polecats converted three of their spot-kicks to overcome their Breconshire opponents and book a place in the draw for the second round of the competition.