Newmarket clinched the championship and promotion as they maintained
their unbeaten record in their final Cambridgeshire Ladies' League
game. Although the visitors travelled to Ely with high hopes, they
had three key players absent and two more due to start the game
carrying injuries. With illness leaving Newmarket without the solid
guidance of captain Sam Smith, they started the game with nine
players and their first main concern was not to concede any early
goals.
Newmarket embarked on the game with determination
and managed to infiltrate the Ely defence several times without
scoring the goal they needed to settle themselves. The attacks were
almost matched by an Ely side which pushed hard to get into a
goal-scoring position. Newmarket were finding the going tough with
the noticeable shortfall of personnel in the midfield. However, Ely
never seriously tested the visitors' defence too much as Tracey
Cockerill, from a back seat in central defence, made some great
clearances despite injury.
Newmarket pushed hard and won numerous short
corners, the first of which was sent just wide of the post by Gail
McDonnell. It took several more attempts to get the much-needed
goal, when Beth Wombwell powered a rebounded shot past the keeper.
Newmarket settled into their game with the
cushion of a goal and maintained the pressure in the Ely half. The
visitors doubled their advantage after some great passing between
Wombwell and Sarah Haird released Marie Williams who slotted her
shot past the Ely keeper.
Five minutes before the end of the first half the
pressure was slightly lifted from Newmarket shoulders when the
arrival of another player increased their numbers to a more robust
10. With the additional strength in midfield, Newmarket began the
second half with renewed vigour and were soon piling the pressure
onto the Ely defence. They had repeated attacks but were still
missing the 11th player up front and rebound shots went begging.
Good team morale and strong support from the
Newmarket defence allowed the attack to push forward and they were
able to win several more short corners. Although none of these ended
with the desired result, Newmarket were hungry for a third goal and
it was not long in coming as Claire McDonnell beat two defenders to
fire one past the keeper.
Newmarket held off the remaining Ely attacks to
finish the game 3-0, which was not a bad result for an extremely
depleted Newmarket side.
