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Sheffield FC Women’s County Cup run unfortunately ended through a narrow penalty shootout loss after a 1-1 draw with Brunsmeer Athletic at the Home of Football Stadium.

A spirited performance from Club saw them bounce back after falling behind when Lisa Giampalma put Brunsmeer ahead on 34 minutes.

That goal prompted the hosts to equalise five minutes before half-time as Jacey Haynes ran onto Halima Essa’s through ball to bury home for 1-1.

Despite pushing for the winner throughout the second half, Sheffield had to settle for a shootout in which they were edged 5-3 by the visitors on route to the quarter-final.

A highly anticipated tie in the County Cup started level pegging before the hosts backline defended the game’s first corner, which ended in a wild volley attempt by Libby Hallam on nine minutes.

Club soon picked up the pace and got forward four minutes later when Essa got in behind to pull the ball back for Haynes who guided her shot just over.

Essa was involved once more in another opportunity with another clever layoff to Haynes, ending with her low shot flashing just past the post.

The hosts continued to create as Stacey Buxton glanced a header wide before the striker teed up Haynes who was denied from a few yards out on 32 minutes.

Then within moments, the home side fell behind when Giampalma raced through to strike low into the far corner.

That setback did nothing to stop Club’s positive play, which engineered the leveller on 40 minutes when Haynes latched onto an Essa through ball to fire home.

The second half started level again before Sheffield got on the front foot as Lucy Cook snuck in behind before being denied from a tight angle.

Graham Abercrombie’s side were threatening from all angles as Nicole Kemp’s pinpoint free-kick was inches away from 2-1 after hitting the crossbar on 53 minutes.

More attacking play from the home side saw them craft another opportunity on the hour as Cook teed up substitute Mariah McIntosh who was denied by the onrushing Cheryl Marwood.

McIntosh then saw a goalbound header tipped wide before setting up Kemp to strike from range, which deflected over the bar on 64 minutes.

The away side then caused a scare 10 minutes later when Kellogg had to be alert to push away Ellie Millar’s fierce strike from distance.

As the game entered the final stages, it was all Sheffield as Buxton’s driving run and hit flew just wide of the target with three minutes to go.

Then in stoppage time, both Cook and Louisa Anderson were inches away from touching home Kemp’s corner delivery as the final whistle signalled penalties.

A tense shootout saw Club match the visitors first three spot kicks, courtesy of Kemp, Brooke Smith and Tilly Hallas-Potts.

They were left without the luck however as Buxton struck her spot kick just over before Kellogg got a strong hand to Bradie Wild’s penalty until it trickled in for Brunsmeer to go through.

A tough defeat for Club to take with the opportunity now to bounce back next week in the league away at Basford. 

Sheffield FC: 1 Leah Kellogg, 3 Eden Hinchliffe, 4 Nicole Kemp ©, 5 Louisa Anderson, 6 Tilly Hallas-Potts, 8 Halima Essa, 9 Amy Nelson, 10 Stacey Buxton, 11 Lucy Cook, 17 Brooke Smith, 21 Jacey Haynes. Subs: 7 Sami Brooks, 14 Caitlyn Douglas, 15 Natasha Wood, 16 Moriah McIntosh, 19 Nicole Cooper.

Brunsmeer Athletic: 13 Cheryl Mawhood, 2 Rhianna Fox, 3 Sheldon Ashton, 6 Lucy Damms, 8 Libby Hallam, 9 Natalie Shaw, 10 Bradie Wild ©, 11 Millie Kenyon, 16 Lisa Giampalma, 19 Molly Waite, 25 Ellie Millar. Subs: 14 Leoni Wigfield, 15 Leanne De Silva, 22 Grace Wardle.

Attendance: 53

Referee: John O'Brien