Martin and Acock Norfolk Women’s League

Division One

IN a fixture rearranged due to snow before Christmas, Magpies travelled away to face Yarmouth, where a victory would see them win the Division One league title and gain promotion to the Premier Division, but a defeat would mean promotion could not yet be guaranteed.

In cold, drizzly conditions at Cliff Park High School, the match started in a scrappy fashion, and with Magpies fielding a changed team from previous weeks they were unable to assert their authority in the opening minutes.

The game did settle down somewhat, with Yarmouth making dangerous ground into the Magpies D on the counter attack and Magpies being kept out by the Yarmouth ‘keeper. Both sides won a couple of short corners during the first half, but were unable to make good use of them and find the back of the net, and the score remained goalless going into half time.

Magpies came out after the break determined to find the winner to ensure their league title, but still the Yarmouth defence and goalkeeper kept them at bay. With 15 or so minutes left to go, an injury to a Yarmouth player saw the time stopped and Magpies had a chance to regroup. Battling hard after the restart, Magpies got the ball back into the Yarmouth D, and it fell to Roo Barker to push the ball to the left of the ‘keeper and score Magpies’ most important goal of the season; a real team effort.

With 10 minutes still left to play, Magpies fought for every ball and did everything they could to get to the final whistle with their lead intact. And they did!

What an incredible achievement - in only their second season in the Norfolk Division One League they won the title and gained promotion, with three games still left to be played! Thanks must go to fifth team players Frankie Eaves, Laura Davidson and Saffron Wilford who stepped up a team to play for the fourths, all of whom gave impressive performances. Thanks also to Hannah Linger for going back into defence when needed and putting in a solid display. Special mention this week to Sarah Legg and Katie Mound at the back for Magpies for their outstanding performances.

However, all 13 players must be proud of themselves for being part of such a hard fought game, and those players not playing today must be proud of their involvement up to now, as it has truly been a team effort!