AFC Wimbledon U12 girls welcomed QPR U12 girls to the ATS Sports Ground in the semi-final of the all-important Surrey County Girls League Cup. The two teams battled through all of the regulation time and then extra time for the game to be taken to penalties.

It all came down to the last penalty, and attacker 10 didn’t feel the pressure as she calmly put the ball into the middle right of the goal. However, two superb saves from goalkeeper 1 gave Wimbledon the edge that they needed to find themselves in their second cup final from two tournaments.

A changed AFC Wimbledon side meant that Captain and Midfielder 5 dropped into defence alongside 3 and 4, as 2 was away. The midfield consisted of 8, 10 and 11 with 9 and 19 playing as the attacking options.

The first half was uneventful with both teams struggling to break each other down. QPR had the better of the possession and controlled the midfield.

QPR decided to push for it in the second half and some shaky defending was met with impressive saves by 1.  Straight from kick-off QPR showed why they were 3rd in the league and control of the possession is not something Wimbledon were used to facing.

An equal start to the match for both sides meant that in the first five minutes there were little chances. AFC Wimbledon’s first real chance came after a shot from 10 forced a corner.  The corner eventually came to nothing.

QPR liked to hold the ball and then play it down the wings; this was something the Dons found hard to counter. A deep long ball was launched into the box by the QPR defence. A high bounce looped over goalkeeper 1. When she realised it was above her she dived backwards and managed to hook the ball in mid-air and flick it forward, before it went over the line. A David De Gea-esque save was required to keep the visitors out. The last action of the first half came from QPR after a barrage of shots was shakily cleared by the Wimbledon defence.

The half-time whistle couldn’t come quick enough for AFC Wimbledon and they went into half-time at 0-0.

A strong second half performance was needed from Wimbledon. They needed to try and control possession which would allow them to play their dominant style of football that has worked so well in other cup and league fixtures.

Both teams showed good attacking threats, however QPR came close earliest. Once again a ball down the wing was played into the box and an unmarked player at the back post sliced the ball out for a goal kick. Another QPR attack and another ball was played in across the box and a fantastic save by 1 kept the away side at bay. As the ball was came across, she came out to meet to player on the right side of her box and as the attacker attempted to curl it around her she got a hand to it.

QPR were pinning the home side into their own half and Wimbledon just couldn’t seem to find a way out.

However, a rare attack for the Dons came through 11, who battled incredibly well to keep the ball in her control to play a dangerous ball across to Carmen. The opposition goalkeeper saw the ball come across and made sure that she caught it.

The final whistle blew and extra time was to follow. Two seven minute halves were put into place.

Again, QPR found themselves having the better of the possession and a save from 1 was required to keep the score at 0-0.

Wimbledon have been involved in a lot of goalmouth scrambles this season and as everyone tried to score the QPR defenders managed to clear the ball. Another attack for the Dons saw good build up play in midfield followed by a pass to 19 who took a couple of strides and fired a shot from distance goal bound. The ball curled just wide of the post. A last attack for the hosts was created by 11 as she picked the ball up and ran down the wing, however she couldn’t manage to direct the ball goal bound.

The visitors had the last bit of action in the second half of additional time. A long shot, after some possession, went well wide.

Not for the first time, the whistle went to signal the end of the second period of extra time. Penalties were calling.

Two heroic penalty saves by 1 meant that the score stayed at 2-1 after both teams had taken four of their five penalties .The final QPR penalty taker scored her penalty and it left one last penalty for the Dons to take the game.

10 walked up to the spot and curled the ball into the top right corner putting AFC Wimbledon into their second final this season. A 3-2 win on penalties ended an exhausting game and the young Dons reaped the rewards. A resolute display by QPR saw them come just short and Wimbledon march on.