| Match Report |
Having already clinched the league title last week, Caradon looked to stamp thier authority when they took on league runners up, Exe.
With the 2 best teams of the year playing, it promised to be a game high in quality and it did not disappoint. With both teams keen to play a passing style, the first half was end to end with both keepers being tested. The deadlock was broken midway through the first half when Exe scored from a powerful strike at a penalty corner. Amy Batty was very close to clearing the ball off the line but it was too powerful and it was advantage Exe.
Half time gave Caradon chance to regroup and reinstall the belief that has been so evident all season. With squad rotations, the team were able to play at a high pace and were loading more and more pressure towards the Exe goal. Every team member were playing at maximum levels and due to this a couple were sent to the sun bin for various over committed challenges. This led to numerous formation changes, but Caradon always looked balanced and in control.
The scores were soon levelled when Molly Walsh dispatched a delicious drag flick from a penalty corner and this spurred Caradon to continue to push for the win. A nasty hand injury to Saffy Cripps led to more reshuffling but actually aided the home team as it provided more variety in thier attacking plays.
Player of the match, Libby Walsh, scored the winner and final goal of the season with a neat finish following good build up play from forward, Bizzie Dinnis.
The final 10 minutes were all about game management and the league champions showed thier class and maturity to see out the final minutes and claim the win that secured an 8 point gap at the top of the league table.
A truly exceptional season from a squad of 14 players who will now look forward to a good run in the county cup competition before celebrating thier achievements at the clubs end of season awards dinner in May.
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