HVJ Whitby Trophy - 14/6/10
GODWIN HAD TO settle for second place in the London SFA 7-a-sides, after an exhilerating sequence of displays saw them come up just short of the overall title. With the last kick of extra-time, a dramatic winner for Woodside of Thurrock meant that they added the girls' championship to the boys' title won the previous week.
Godwin began in fine style, with a 4-0 demolition of Hartley from Newham. Morgan-Lilly Duffield tapped in from close range before Briony Hagger’s brace and a strike from Hollie Ross stamped the Finnymore Road side’s authority on the tournament.
Next up were Hunters Hall, who put up a fighting performance, but were undone by Hagger’s trickery. The District striker again racked up a double to send her side into the following game full of confidence.
However, complacency seemed to have set in when defensive lapses resulted in Woodside sneaking a 2-1 win; Hagger again amongst the goals for Godwin.
With a 2-1 reverse against Avenue of Sutton, Godwin were in real danger of elimination. Instead though, they staged a recovery full of character to smash their way out of the group, defeating Cheam Park by five goals without reply. Faith Efemwen, Louise Dove, Hagger and Ross (2) all chipped in to complete the rout.
That left a tricky semi-final tie against Avenue, who had defeated Godwin in the group stages. Knowing only their best performance of the season would do, Godwin came out on the front foot, leaving their opponents shell-shocked. First, Hagger converted Dove’s drilled centre before provider turned goal scorer, fortuitously having her speculative shot spilled by the keeper.
With victory in sight, disaster struck when a pair of own goals, inside two minutes, threatened to derail the Godwin train. Although the pressure was beginning to tell, an instant reply from Hagger, firing into the top corner from an acute angle, regained the lead. It was the forward’s thirty-fifth goal of the season, and a fitting reward for the excellent manner in which she lead the line all through the tournament.
That set up an encounter with Woodside in the final, who edged past Hartley in the semi with a closely fought 1-0 win after extra time.
A tight affair ensued with both defences repelling each other’s advances. Amber Young, in the Godwin goal, was superb, showing confident handling and calm under pressure.
With three minutes left on the clock, and the score at deadlock, a lose Woodside clearance rolled to Ross just inside her own half. The left back stepped up and stroked an exquisite curling shot, past a disbelieving Woodside defence, and into the bottom corner for what seemed to be the winner.
But it wasn’t to be. Woodside equalised with the last kick of the game to force the tie into extra-time. Then, with penalties looming, Young pulled off a top-class save to keep her side in the tie. Unfortunately though, the rebound fell kindly to an unmarked Woodside midfielder who showed good control and technique to hit a first time shot into the vacant goal.
It was harsh on Godwin who had battled resiliently throughout and could be justly proud of their efforts once again.
Godwin: Fisher, Young, Ross, Dove, Hagger (capt), Efemwen, Duffield, Simpson.
