In an exciting encounter, Cornwall needed to win this final match to overtake the RAF and take the title. The first half was very lively, with both sides trying to make the breakthrough against good defences. Cornwall had more of the possession but couldn’t turn that into a goal.
The game changed immediately after the break, when the RAF scored in the first minute with a well-taken goal from Michelle Thiele, who capitalised on a sleepy Cornwall defence. From that moment on, Cornwall were putting pressure of the RAF goal, with a number of sustained attacks, one of which ended with a Julie Lawrence shot hitting the post. But the RAF were still a threat and they too came close on a number of occasions.
The contest for the title was really on again when Cornwall were awarded a penalty, which Sarah Mansfield coolly converted to make the scores 1-1. But Cornwall needed to take all three points to secure the title and they did their level best to get that second goal. For their part, the RAF stood firm and it was end to end stuff in the final 10 minutes. Cornwall (pictured right) took second place, by the narrowest of margins from the Army.
Jon Fancy, from the South and West Counties Championship, presented the trophy to Michelle Harvey-Perkins, the RAF team captain.
There will be no women’s competition next season, as the Army, the RAF, Gloucestershire and Cornwall have decided not to run teams.
Source / photos - cornwallfa.com
