Millwall Lionesses went out of the London & South East Regional League Cup at the quarter-final stage with a highly controversial stoppage-time 3-2 defeat against Dartford at Princes Park last Sunday.
It was a heartbreaker for the Lionesses who had lead 2-1 on 90 minutes, when the Darts bizarrely won a penalty which Niche Dyett converted to equalise.
The referee consulted his assistant who had apparently flagged for a handball, but awarded the penalty for a foul by Millwall’s most experienced defender Jordan Butler, who was adamant she had made no contact with the home player.
The Millwall players were devastated by this, and in the sixth minute of added-time they conceded the winning goal when Lizzie Adams tapped in after following up on a free-kick which had hit a post.
The match had turned on an incident in the 78th minute when experienced Millwall striker Emma Whitter was sin-binned for ten minutes, a sanction only rarely seen at this level. She had questioned a decision for a foul against her when chasing a through-ball. This gave Dartford the energy to go for the penalty equaliser which turned the match.
Millwall’s lead had come from a volley by Shannan Drewe on 43 minutes and a goal from Madison Grandys, which was created by Clara Watling and Whitter on 55 minutes. Former Millwall player Paris Smith had equalised for the Darts in the 53rd minute.
The Lionesses will have to pick themselves up for the home league match with Sutton United at Salter Road this Sunday afternoon at 1.30pm.
The Lionesses have one more knockout competition left as they travel to face AFC Wimbledon at Carshalton Athletic FC in the semi-finals of the Capital Senior Cup on Sunday week.
Image: @manonwheelzz