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Woodlands last league match of a fantastic season was against Radcliffe Olympic 2. Radcliffe have had a brilliant season themselves and came into the game requiring only 1 point from their last 2 matches to secure the league title. Woodlands were in 3rd place with pride to play for. Chloe P was unavailable at the back, and Nicci failed a pre match fitness test on her jarred knee.
In an absorbing match, Woodlands took the lead when Mel cut inside and fired a left foot drive into the right hand corner of the net. Radcliffe are made of stern stuff and were soon level. A corner was headed on at the front post and was met from 3 yards out to leave Sophie with no chance.
However any thoughts of Woodlands heads dropping were diminished immediately, Mel scoring from outside the box, drilling into the far corner within a minute of the restart.
Woodlands were playing some lovely Football and were restricting Radcliffe to shots from distance.
Claire broke through the middle, her run was half blocked, the ball running to Mel, whose sweet strike flew just over the bar.
Radcliffe were awarded a penalty on 36 minutes, a long ball played into the Radcliffe forward wide on the left hand side of the box forced a rare mistake & Chloe's tackle was just too late, the referee pointing to the spot .
Sophie brilliantly denied the penalty taker with a smart save to her right, the ball was then kicked out for a corner from which Radcliffe equalised with a powerful header.
Far from being dejected, Woodlands played some of their best football of the game after this. Shannon's dipping shot was saved by the Radcliffe keeper before Woodlands again took the lead on 40 minutes. After good work from Hayley down the right , Mel broke through the middle and a mistimed tackle in the box gave her the chance to complete her first half hat trick from the penalty spot. This was dispatched into the left hand corner & Woodlands had a deserved half time lead.
Any thought Woodlands had that this was game over were ended within a minute of the restart. Radcliffe's forward just holding off a challenge from Betty before a neat finish under the on rushing Sophie. 3-3
Amy & Nia were outstanding and Frankie who has been solid as a rock all season was excellent again.
The game was a great advert for girls football and it shows how far we have come as a team this season to be competing with a side packed with players of quality that will surely wrap up the league title on Wednesday night.
Woodlands scored a 4th and winning goal on 68 minutes. Jess fed Hollie who took the ball forward down the left, her ball into the middle still left Nia with lots to do, but the finish was brilliant and Woodlands took the 3 points in a fabulous match. 4-3
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