London SFA Wyn Bailey 5-a-sides
(Winners - Godwin/Woodside)
GODWIN GIRLS’ FOOTBALL team continued their incredible season, with victory in the Wyn Bailey Trophy. Six schools contested finals day where the borough league champions were able to add the London schools’ 5-a-side title to their ever expanding trophy cabinet.
In-form Louise Dove was in lethal mood early on in the tournament, slamming a quick-fire hat-trick to compliment Hollie Ross’s first of the day in the opening group match against Hartley. The Newham side were unable to threaten at the other end as Amber Young wrapped up another clean sheet between the sticks.
That pattern continued as Hunter’s Hall were swept aside 3-0. Dove added two more to her tally before Alex Fisher’s deflected effort made sure of the win.
London 7-a-side champions Woodside were then put to the sword, Dove again on the score-sheet with a fine solo goal that rocked the Thurrock side in the narrowest of wins.
Avenue Primary then prompted a wobble for Godwin, as they became the first team to take three points off them in the group stage. Two sloppy goals sandwiched Dove’s eighth of the afternoon as the Sutton side ensured their progress alongside Godwin into the semi-finals.
But in the final group game, Godwin warmed up for the tougher tasks ahead dispatching five goals without reply against Cheam Park. Skipper Briony Hagger nabbed a pair, as did Ross, with Dove’s by-now obligatory strike completing the rout.
It took extra-time for the Dagenham side to edge past a stubborn and much improved Hartley in the semi-finals. For much of the game, the tie was in the balance until Dove finished off a flowing move before Hagger and Ross unlocked the opposition’s watertight defence for the latter to tap in her fourth of the day.
The final was a repeat of the equivalent 7-a-side competition from two weeks ago with Thurrock’s Woodside earning the right to contest for silverware alongside their previously defeated opponents.
The game was a tight affair, with an injury to Fisher causing a reshaped Godwin line-up to concentrate on shoring up the backline to cover her absence. As a result, Godwin were rock solid in defence, with Dove filling in superbly but lacking in her energy and verve down the right flank.
After extra-time, neither side had managed to force an advantage, although both teams had opportunities to do so, albeit from long range. In the end though, nothing could separate them so the trophy was shared, leaving the two schools equally happy with their success.
Godwin: Fisher, Young, Ross, Dove, Hagger (capt), Duffield.
