Livingston Women's skipper 'filled with pride' after sealing SWF Championship title

Livingston Women’s skipper Natasha Frew says she’s ‘filled with pride’ after leading the Lionesses to the SWF Championship title.

Fittingly given it’s been a season of decisive late goals and gritty performances, the Tony Macaroni Arena outfit bagged an injury-time leveller to pick up a 3-3 draw against Renfrew to get the party started.

It was the third time Paul Jaconelli’s side had recovered from a goal down in the clash, which had been a slow-burner before Sinead MacLeod opened the scoring on 25 minutes after converting her own rebound.

But Livi’s never-say-die attitude shone through as it has so often this term with Lucy Brown’s inch-perfect delivery being slammed home at the back post by Beth McKay moments later. The away side would get their noses back in front before half-time, though, as MacLeod’s effort was parried into the path of Megan Castle to tap home.

The game turned again on the hour mark as substitute Gemma Mason - not for the first time - proved decisive off the bench. She curled a wonderful 25-yard free-kick beyond Samantha McQuillan.

Parity lasted all of four minutes before Castle bagged a stunning second with a long-range hooked effort to give second-placed Renfrew the lead for a third time.

As the clock continued to tick, the more frantic Livi’s play became and the more visible the signs of nerves as they tried to drag themselves over the line with two games to spare.

And, just when it seemed to be over, there was time for one last decisive, dramatic moment in a season full of them.

In the second minute of injury-time, Mason’s corner led to a classic goalmouth stramash inside a packed penalty box with Ashley Elizabeth’s effort being ruled to have crossed the line despite McQuillan’s best efforts -