Stevenage warmed up for their county cup showdown on Sunday by reaching another final - this one in dramatic fashion.

The Boro ladies face Royston Town at the County Ground in Letchworth in the Herts Women's Challenge Cup, kick-off at 2.30pm.

They will now also play in the Eastern Region League Cup final next month, against either Luton Town or Colney Heath, after winning 3-2 at Needham Market in the semi-final.

The game would feature two stunning strikes and four penalties but the opening 10 minutes in Suffolk were a cagey affair.

It was Boro who got the breakthrough though, Hannah Bodily heading the ball through to Amy Makewell who in turn managed to get the ball forward to Emily Schofield.

She was caught by the outstretched leg of Ele Catchpole and Makewell made no mistake from the spot for her 14th of the season and 40th in Stevenage colours.

 

Ten minutes later the second penalty of the day brought the hosts level, Mia O'Brien fouling Amber Cantwell and Lina Nagib sending it wide of the keeper from 12 yards.

 

The match had barely hit 30 minutes when penalty number three arrived.

This time a great run down the right from Eleanor Rossiter for Needham was matched by Vicky Neal's pursuit.

However, the slide to tackle saw the ball hit the defender's arm and Nagib sent this spot-kick to the same place as before, O'Brien guessing correctly but just inches away from stopping it.

There was to be one more goal before the break, although this one was from open play.

Makewell had gone close just before, the shot well saved by Evie McKane, but the keeper could do nothing about Becky Shephard's looping effort from the edge of the area dragging Boro level in stoppage time.

Both sides had efforts in the second half but both defences had tightened up to keep things a lot more controlled.

It was felt that either a mistake of something spectacular would win the game and with 72 minutes gone, it turned out to be the latter.

A Hannah Nebbitt throw was held up by Amy Gooderham who laid a simple ball back to Rosy Wodhams.

She simply unleashed a strike from distance that flew over McKane and nestled in the back of the net.

 

Needham didn't roll over but their best attempt struck the crossbar and it was Boro who could have won it with penalty number four of the day, coming deep into stoppage time.

Holly Greenwood was fouled this time and with Makewell off the pitch, Tilly Fidler took responsibility.

McKane saved this one low down but time was up shortly after.

Stevenage's caretaker manager, Dave Perry, said: "We worked hard, everything was there including the desire to win.

"Whether it be a cup semi-final or a league game, the girls want to do well and want to play.

"They give us the tools to win, they do it, not me, and now we get our day out at the final."

 

Stevenage: O’Brien, Neal, Farmer, Price, Nebbitt, Bodily, Greenwood, Shephard, Schofield, Millen, Makewell.

Subs: Fidler, Gooderham, Webster, Wodhams

Goals: Makewell, Shephard, Wodhams

Booking: Neal

 

Needham Market: McKane, Bloomfield, Catchpole, Rossiter, Etheridge, Nagib, Hall, Ward, Wakefield, Cantwell, Thomas.

Subs: Hubbard, Gooding, Pannifer, Sharp

Goals: Nagib (two)

Booking: Etheridge