LEAH Etheridge scored the winning goal to send Southampton Women’s FC through to the Second Round Proper of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup.
The Reserves’ goalkeeper was subbed on as a striker for the final half of extra-time in a First Round tie with Brentford.
Sirens teammate Izzie Thorogood was a constant driving force, and her run from the half-way line in the 115th minute made the difference.
She beat two Brentford players to the six-yard-box, where she cut the ball back to the awaiting Etheridge.
It was an easy side-foot pass into the back of the net, but the monumental moment for player and club sent the bench and small army of travelling fans into a frenzy.
Southampton goalkeeper coach, Dease Kerrinson, was in tears, “I still don’t think I’ve come down off the ceiling. The last 24 hours has been absolutely crazy; the response that it has had on social media [has been amazing].”
The video, captured by El Reid Media, was shared to social media after the final whistle, and Kerrison certainly wasn’t exaggerating with the response it has had.
At the time of writing, there are 53k views on the Southampton Women’s FC X page, as well as 101k from the Adobe Women’s FA Cup page and 7.2k from El Reid Media’s page.
The hype of the moment landed Etheridge and Kerrinson an invitation for an interview with BBC Radio Solent the following evening.
The story was also broadcasted on BBC South Today, presented by Lewis Coombes.
Etheridge was recently appointed as a captain for the Reserves team, and her coach and step-dad, Gav Calder, is over the moon, “it’s been a crazy 24 hours but so proud of Leah after her goal. Her Mum and I were super happy that she made it into the First Team squad.”
“I was reasonably calm for the first 105 minutes, and before I knew it, Leah was changing her goalkeeper kit.”
Gav Calder
“It was an amazing feeling when that ball hit the back of the net!”
Southampton will now play Maidenhead this weekend in the Second Round Proper, with the winner playing Championship side Watford.
