Hannah Haughton was the shoot-out hero, saving two penalties to ensure Pompey Women beat Southampton to lift the Hampshire Cup.
The delayed 2019/20 final was, unsurprisingly for a south coast derby, a tense affair, with both sides having chances to win the tie inside 90 minutes.
A Jade Bradley free-kick had given the Blues an early advantage at Westleigh Park, only for their rivals to hit back through Rachel Panting.
Haughton had already made some crucial stops, but produced a couple more from 12 yards to ensure Pompey would claim the silverware for a 12th successive season.
Jay Sadler made one change from the side that beat Cheltenham in the FA Cup in the club’s last competitive outing the previous month.
That came in the forward line, where Tamsin de Bunsen made way for Shannon Albuery, who was appearing against her former club.
There were early chances for the opposition, with Haughton gathering an effort from Ella Morris before Rosanna Parnell headed narrowly over.
But the Blues soon started to move through the gears and Rendell just about managed to gather Kat Cunningham’s cross at the second attempt, with Jade Widdows waiting to pounce.
And they broke the deadlock on 11 minutes, as a BRADLEY free-kick from the edge of the box caught out the keeper and snuck inside the post.
That was the cue for a Southampton reaction and Haughton came tearing from her line to snatch the ball from the feet of Ella Pusey.
Morris then did brilliantly down the right and crossed for Pusey, whose header was cleared from the line by Jazz Younger.
Panting soon came close to hurting her former side, with a cross-shot towards the back post that flashed just wide.
But the Blues had an excellent opportunity to double their lead late in the first half – only to let Southampton off the hook.
Widdows was only able to fire a shot straight at Rendell after a defensive slip had seen her race through on goal.
Half Time: Southampton 0 Pompey 1
The second half took a while to get going, with both sides guilty of some sloppy early play in possession.
Southampton did have a chance when Pusey broke past the back-line, but Haughton was alert to come to the rescue.
And they were level just before the hour mark, as Panting latched onto Lucia Kendall’s incisive pass and neatly slotted the ball home.
Another wide free-kick from Bradley almost saw Pompey retake the lead, but Younger was unable to force home the cross and their opponents survived the subsequent scramble.
The pressure was building and an angled attempt from Albuery was then well saved by Rendell down to the keeper’s right.
But it was Southampton who came close to forging ahead on 73 minutes, with Haughton making a superb stop to deny Pusey after an initial shot from Phoebe Williams had been blocked by Younger.
Mia Adaway, Laura Ingram and Freya Jones were all brought on by Sadler to add some fresh legs for the Blues.
Neither side was able to find a late winner, however, with Haughton grasping a stoppage-time header from Williams to ensure a shoot-out would be required.
Full Time: Southampton 1 Pompey 1
Katie James and Adaway got Pompey off to a superb start in the shoot-out, while Haughton was at her brilliant best to deny Shannon Sievwright.
Jones skied her effort over the bar, but the Blues looked to have secured the victory when Haughton kept out Georgie Freeland’s attempt.
Danielle Rowe’s successful spot-kick moved them another step closer, but Ava Rowbotham’s effort was kept out by Rendell.
That gave the Southampton keeper a chance to level, but she cleared the crossbar and the Pompey players raced away to celebrate their latest Hampshire Cup triumph.
Pompey: Haughton; Rowe, Younger, Tonks; Bridge, Rowbotham, Bradley (c) (Ingram 75), Cunningham (Adaway 64); Widdows (Jones 85), Albuery, James
Subs not used: Currie, Mason
🏆 Watch #Pompey lift the Hampshire Cup for the 12th consecutive time! https://t.co/PfvFi6t9zc
— Portsmouth Women (@PompeyWomen) May 19, 2021