Tuesday 29th April at Bury Town FC
Suffolk Women 1 - 2 Cambridgeshire Women
The Suffolk Ladies team, having surrendered the title after their last fixture, still had second place to play for. Their opponents, however, were on course for the title themselves. In fact, the season was ending with a great deal of interest, as the top 4 teams were playing their final fixtures on the same evening. Victory for Cambs would ensure they won the title, but if they failed to win and Essex beat Norfolk, Essex would be champions with Cambs pushing Suffolk into third spot. Victory for Suffolk, would still require Essex to drop points against Norfolk to be sure of second spot.
So, to the match, and the visitors had the best possible start, opening the scoring in the 1st minute, through Lyon, whose shot deflected off Suffolk full-back Leeder and looped over Lunn in the home goal. Cambs maintained the pressure, and Currie took advantage of a miskick by defender Smith, to take the ball round Lunn, but had been guided too wide of the goal by the keeper and the chance had gone. Currie again got free of the home defence to latch onto a through ball, but Leeder did well to get back and cover the goal. With the game only 10 minutes old, Suffolk were fortunate to be only 1 behind. However, a minute later the Cambs lead was doubled when the home defence failed to clear a corner and defender, Marsh, hooked it back into goal and over the keeper.
After that the visitors seemed to take their feet off the pedal, and Suffolk came more into it. A fine break down the left by Parnell produced a low cross to Blake, but her close range shot was scrambled off the line by a defender. Another chance came the way of Blake, after Allum took the ball down the right and cut the ball back, Blake pulled her shot wide. Mid-way through the half, Suffolk really did put themselves right back in the game, when a delightful chipped pass by Leeder found Allum in space behind the Cambs defence. She strode confidently forward to place a fine shot past Cambs keeper, Crook, from 15 yards. Cambs came back and Lyon missed a good opportunity, when clean through, she shot straight at Lunn. It was now an even game, but in truth play became less cohesive. Allum had a snap-shot which was wide of the goal, and a good combination between Blake and Allum let in Bitten, but again the finish was wide. Lunn produced a fine save from Kempski, just before half-time.
Suffolk started the second half in more determined mood, but both teams found it difficult to hold onto the ball, and play was now quite ragged. Lyon got the better of Suffolk defender, Smith, but her cross was overhit. Good work in the final third by Currie and Lyon for Cambs was matched by good defensive play by Smith and Gordon. With 18 minutes still to play, a surprise pile-driver by Wiese from 40 yards was well saved by Crook – if that had gone in, the final quarter of an hour would have been very interesting. But it was the visitors who created the final chances; Lyon chipping Lunn, who somehow bent backwards and got finger tips to it to knock it away from the goal; and Currie after carrying the ball nearly 50 yards, finished with a tired shot which went wide of the goal. The final chance with the minutes ticking away went to Allum; a wonderful driven pass by Smith found Parnell on the left-wing. Allum met her low cross but failed to get enough on it to take it past the keeper.
The Suffolk team, with 3 changes in their squad from the previous match, gave a good account of themselves, and might have got something out of the game. But it was Cambs team who finished deserved winners and therefore they became league champions. In the other fixture, Essex had beaten Norfolk by the same score to finish second. Suffolk claiming third spot on goal difference from Norfolk. For them, the loss of Helen Bass from the final 3 matches was crucial, and hopefully, she will make a full recovery from her ankle injury to help the team next season retrieve the title.