A PENALTY shoot-out wrecked the dreams of a teenage goalkeeper who put one record straight but couldn't save her team from defeat last weekend (April 28).

Accrington schoolgirl, Rachel Brown, 15, made history as the youngest ever player in an FA Cup Final keeping goal for Liverpool Ladies FC - in the women's version of the famous trophy against Croydon.

Heartbroken Rachel told the Citizen of her anguish as her team went down 4-2 on penalties.

"We played really well and didn't deserve to lose," said Rachel, who lives in Burnley. "I never expected it to go to penalties and I think we should have won in normal time after having a goal disallowed. Even the BBC film crew said the ball was over the line!

"But it was a sickener to lose on penalties."

Talented Rachel, studying 10 GCSEs at St Christopher's School on Queens Road West, hoped to inspire a Liverpool side which had lost three previous FA Cup Finals.

Under the eyes of television cameras and a bumper 2,100 crowd at Millwall's New Den ground, Rachel kept her nerve as the game went to penalties after a full-time 1-1 scoreline.

"We did our best but couldn't score," added Rachel, who played despite the pain of a knee injury. "I'm glad it wasn't me taking those penalties but never mind, I'm sure we'll be back next year."

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