LG Girls Take Maiden Trophy!

Nine teams trooped over to Yardley 5s for the Girls 6-a-side tournament on Thursday afternoon and were split into two groups - one of five, one of four with eight of those teams going through to the quarter finals.
Trophy holders, Short Heath, made short work of their group games, winning all four without conceding a goal. Lyndon Green just pipped Abbey to second place whilst Mapledene, virtue of a one-goal better difference, took fourth spot ahead of SS Peter and Paul.
In the group of four, Paget were winners after their wins and a draw from their three games, saw them pip Lea Forest to top spot by a single point. Timberley’s two draws meant they ended third with Rosary fourth after a dismal group showing.
Rosary then, however, provided the shock of the last eight ties as they pulled out a sparkling performance to defeat Short Heath, 2-0 and their opponents in the semi-finals would be Lyndon Green after they saw off Timberley, 3-0. Paget brushed aside Mapledene, 4-0 to book their last four spot and that would be against Abbey who were too strong for Lea Forest in a 3-1 win.
The semi finals then saw Abbey take in Paget and Lyndon Green, Rosary. Green were that bit quicker than a tiring Rosary side who seem to have little in the tank after their quarter final exploits and raced into an early two-nil lead. Rosary struggled to get into the game and conceded a third before they did actually get a goal themselves but it was too little, too late. The other last four clash was a much tighter affair with both sides battling away in pursuit of a final place and it was Abbey who clinched a narrow 1-0 win over Paget to do just that.

Final

Lyndon Green 4 - 2 Abbey

What a terrific game this was, full of passion, commitment, endeavour and no little skill and six goals to feast on. Green were once again quick to start and established a two-goal lead and with Abbey then pushing for a goal to get themselves back into the game, Green struck again. Abbey though continued to push forward and were rewarded with a goal three minutes from time but almost immediately LG restored their three goal advantage. Abbey did manage to score again but there was no real time to claw back a two goal deficit and the cup was on its way to South Yardley for the first time.

The tournament concludes girls football for this ESPSFA season and what a season it has been, congratulations to Short Heath, league champions and now to Lyndon Green, 6-a-side tournament winners.