Long Road SFC 0, East Norfolk Sixth Form College 2THIS was a key British Colleges' Sport East League Division One game between the two women's football teams who took the cup and league titles last year, and it saw the local girls take the honours.

Long Road SFC 0, East Norfolk Sixth Form College 2

THIS was a key British Colleges' Sport East League Division One game between the two women's football teams who took the cup and league titles last year, and it saw the local girls take the honours.

Although there were a few players missing due to illness and injury and some of the players having to play out of their regular positions, East Norfolk still fielded a strong team.

Louise Sturman went close to opening the scoring only a few minutes in after Jade Spooner beat the Long Road right back and cut the ball back well. But Louise couldn't find the finish the move deserved. East Norfolk went on to dominate. Spooner went through one-on-one and finished well to give the girls the lead after 15 minutes.

On the rare occasion East Norfolk were forced into defending the back four coped with anything Long Road had to throw at them.

East Norfolk were put under a great deal of pressure from the start of the second half with Long Road using the slope and wind well. At the back, Ellen Catchpole (captain) and Taylor Atkins (player of the match) continued to frustrate the opposition with some exceptional defending with Beth Freeman and Leah Shepherd also having their best game of the season so far.

After several East Norfolk half-chances to go 2-0 up, Eloise Hope produced a match-winning save to maintain East Norfolk's lead.

With 10 minutes left a perfectly-weighted pass from Laura Thacker put Spooner clean through and she came up with the finish required.

Coach, Chris Duffy, said: “This was by far the team's best display this season with every player putting in exceptional performances. A mixture of determined defending and speed with excellent off the ball movement ensured the girls left with the three points they deserved.

“The team now look to be progressing well and developing not only their technical skills but also the mental skills required in the sport with the help of the college's player improvement programme.”