DALFC make the League Cup Final

Pars Ladies blistering start sees them through to their first ever League Cup Final

Hearts 2:3 DALFC
Hearts scorers: Anderson 33min, Diey 79min.
DALFC scorers: Finlay 5min, Shepherd 11min, Yuill 15min.

An incredible 3 goals in the first 15 mins of the first half saw the Pars Ladies through to their first ever cup final but this match was not for the fainthearted as Hearts put up a tremendous fight in a nail biting 2nd half that left everyone with frazzled nerves.

The Pars struck after only 5 minutes when a cleared Dunfermline corner came back in to the unmarked KERRY FINLAY, who had stayed onside, took the ball down perfectly, turned and fired past the Hearts keeper.

With Dunfermline keeping up the early pressure, a fine ball down the right touch-line was then played into Jenny Sloan, who drove forward to the box and laid the ball off for JUDE SHEPHERD who smacked her shot off the post. She was quickest to react and followed up her own shot to score. 2:0 Pars.

And with only a quarter of an hour gone, LAURA YUILL hit an absolute stunner from 20 yards off the underside of the bar and in to leave Hearts shell-shocked.

Hearts gradually started to come into the game, with their first attempt on goal coming 20 mins in from 6 yards out but flying over the bar.

Some meaty challenges brought free kicks in both directions, but Hearts hit back with a dangerous ball into the Pars box, with Anderson beating Ange Comrie to the ball, slotting into the empty net.
Anderson was proving to be a handful, and but for some superb defending from Jodie Morris and Leanne Forker, the score could have been a lot closer when the referee blew for halftime.

2nd Half
It must have been a rousing halftime talk from the Hearts coaches because the home team started the 2nd half like greyhounds out the traps, with an early shot cracking the crossbar. The Pars were defending well, managing to absorb the intense Hearts pressure. Fresh legs in the form of Frankie Martin and Leigh Aitken were brought on as Jude and Laura had ran themselves into the ground. Dunfermline had keeper Ange Comrie to thank for keeping the Pars lead after some good saves, including one with her face that forced her to receive treatment.

With only 15 mins to go Hearts were awarded a freekick on the edge of the box after Rhianna Tweedie had clipped their player but the well struck shot came back off the base of the far post. Keeping up the pressure, only a few minutes later Hearts were celebrating after a looping corner fooled everyone to drop into the Pars net.

With the lead now reduced to only 1 goal, Hearts were really going for it with only 10 mins to go. The Pars did manage to break forward and Nicole Pullar, who had replaced Finlay, had 2 great chances, her first a rasping shot across goal. Then Rachael McQuade sent in a great cross, Pullar slid in but the ball went just past the post.

The last 5 mins were excruciating for the Pars sidelines with Hearts shooting on sight and the Fifers defending like their lives depend on it. A 90th minute corner had the spectators and sidelines gasping as a header hit the top of the far post. Injury time seemed to last for ever, before the final whistle brought scenes of jubilation from the newly promoted Dunfermline side.

Credit to both teams for once again producing yet another incredibly exciting game.

DALFC will play Inverness in the League Cup Final on Sunday 2nd June, venue to be confirmed.