Whitehouse's penalty masterclass sends Charlton into WSL

If the previous 120 minutes had felt lacklustre, despite stunning saves from Whitehouse to deny Shannon O'Brien and Ashleigh Neville, the shootout was far from it and turned into a chaotic few moments.

With each Whitehouse save, chants roared from the home fans and manager Hills was jumping in the air, barely able to contain her anxiety.

At one point, Whitehouse's precious bottle - full of instructions drawn onto it - was thrown into the stands, only to be retrieved by a member of Charlton's staff, later revealed to be called Billy.

Whitehouse frantically read over the markings when it was thrown back over as the clock ticked on, and she took a yellow card for time-wasting with Leicester's Olivia McLoughlin made to wait to take her penalty.

Ironically, that was the only spot kick Whitehouse didn't save as McLoughlin's effort squeezed under the crossbar and into the top netting.

"For some reason my bottle disappeared," Whitehouse joked afterwards when asked if opposition goalkeeper Katie Keane had tried to throw it away.

"I don't know where it went... but luckily someone behind the stands scrambled to get it. I might have had information in that moment to help me. I can't tell you my secrets!

"Thanks Billy for getting my bottle back! I had to retrieve the bottle, that's why I got a yellow card, but it was worth it.

"It's safely hidden in the dressing room now. I might actually get it out and put it on my wall."

Whitehouse revealed she had set herself three objectives at the start of the season - to remain consistent, to win the Golden Glove and to help Charlton gain promotion.

As she sat next to her manager, glowing with pride and a bottle of champagne in view, Whitehouse realised she had achieved everything she had hoped.

On Monday, she was awarded the Golden Glove for her eight clean sheets throughout the campaign and this result was the cherry on top.

"That's all I was striving for this season. In every game I wanted to do everything I could to make sure we could do it, and we did. I'm so proud," added Whitehouse.

"The staff prepare us for those moments, so I felt ready. When we got to the shootout I was just in the zone.

"I did what I could do and made some saves. Neil – my goalkeeper coach – really helped me."