Ladies were away to Keswick for the last game of the season and with only 11 players available, had to win to have any chance of nicking the title from Abbeytown.
Newlaithes started comfortably and were assured in possession throughout. They took the lead after 12 minutes when Pat's deep cross from the right was met on the turn by Laura W, who smashed the ball into the top corner from the left hand edge of the area. Chance after chance came as the Keswick keeper played out of her skin. Paige was unlucky when she nipped in to steal the ball from the keeper but her shot from a tight angle hit the post. Then Claire had a shot well saved as she tried to place the ball past the keeper. Pat then clipped the bar with an excellent effort. Keswick nearly snatched an equaliser on the break when Jade missed an attempted interception but the shot was wide of the mark. Keswick continued to defend heroically and for the last ten minutes of the half, they began to make some progress territorially but stand-in keeper Kristina wasn't troubled in the Newlaithes goal and the score remained 1-0 at half-time.
The 2nd half continued in the same vein as Newlaithes upped a gear. On 48 minutes Paige showed good awareness to turn and played an angled ball through to Pat who thundered a right foot shot into the top corner from just outside the area. Paige then hit the far post with a 25 yard free-kick from the left hand side then Pat again clipped the bar with another rasping drive. It was all Newlaithes but Keswick kept plugging away and they almost pulled one back when their forward attacked a cross from the right but her header flew just over. That was a warning shot across the bow for Newlaithes and they once again took the game to Keswick. Claire was again unlucky to see a shot saved and Katie J and Tasha also came close. Then on 80 minutes Paige thundered another 25 yard free-kick against the underside of the bar for the ball to bounce down - was it over the line? We will never know as Tasha followed up well to head the ball into the back of the net. Final score 3-0.
This was a comfortable victory for Newlaithes' makeshift team. Nevertheless, credit is due to the Keswick players who never stopped trying to play properly and they didn't resort to any unsavoury tactics to try and gain an advantage. The match was played in good spirit throughout and the post match hospitality was first-class.
Newlaithes player of the match was Katie J who worked tirelessly to pressure the Keswick defenders in her first ever full match.
Unfortunately for the Newlaithes players, Abbeytown also won their match so we have finished runners-up in only our second season in women's football - still a fantastic achievement for a team with an average age of 17½..
Off to Penrith on Wednesday to face Kendal Town in the League Cup final, kick-off 7pm.
