Barnet Ladies lifted the Middlesex Senior Cup in dramatic style with Jess Trimnell converting a 118th minute winner.
The Bees raced into an early lead courtesy of Stacey Sowden but the R’s responded well and levelled through Kasha Petit. With just over 25 minutes remaining the Bees retook the lead through Leanne Reidy before goalkeeper Eartha Pond smashed the ball home three minutes from time.
Both sides had chances to win the match in extra-time and with penalties looming it looked like going all the way before Sowden charged down the right and crossed to Trimnell who made no mistake from five-yards.
QPR were dealt a double blow prior to kick-off as striker Katie O’Leary and number one Sophie Cheadle were both deemed unfit to start the contest. Pond, who was originally named in the R’s midfield, was drafted between the sticks but she was beaten within the opening ten minutes.
The irrepressible Sowden has been in terrific form this season and she eased past the QPR defence before firing past Pond who redeemed herself two minutes later by palming Vanna Lee’s volley to safety.
Rangers responded and went close through Kim Meadows but she was denied by Bees’ keeper Megan Wordington who raced out of her goal to clear the ball to safety.
Despite this scare the Bees remained on the back foot and they were punished on the half-hour mark when Petit calmly slotted the ball past Wordington.
The R’s continued to press but they failed to make it count as the Bees began the second period on the front foot.
Sowden was first to test in the second 45 but failed to hit the target from 10-yards.
With 64 minutes played the Bees went in front for a second time through Reidy who fired home on the rebound after Holly Sandon’s free-kick was blocked.
In a desperate attempt to draw level QPR threw everything at Barnet but they were lucky not to be 3-1 down when Chontelle Lawrence’s shot was tipped onto the post.
Moments later the goalkeeper was at the forefront of the action once more but this time she had an impact at the other end of the pitch. With 87 minutes on the clock Pond was called forward after the R’s won a free-kick 20 yards from goal, the stand in keeper thundered the ball towards goal and it slipped through the hands of Wordington and into the net.
Both sides saw efforts from range come to nothing in extra-time and the match looked to be heading for penalties.
However, with just two minutes to play Trimnell broke QPR hearts when she poked the ball past Pond to give Lydia Bedford’s side the cup.
