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Women's Football News

Double joy for Callington

Women's Football News 27 Apr 2010

Callington Town completed a League and Cup 'double' after they defeated Truro City in the Cornwall League Kimmins Division Two Cup Final.

However not even 120 minutes of football and five penalties each could separate the two sides on the day and only sudden death in a penalty shoot out was enough to finally produce a winner and it was the width of a cross bar that was the real difference in the end.

As in previous games between the two sides, the contest was once again played in great spirit with both teams battling hard in every area of the pitch. In normal time both teams had decent chances to take the lead, Callington hit the post in the first half when midfielder Carla Knighton turned in the area and fired her shot off the upright, and Truro had the Town keeper Sara Rowe scrambling to her bottom corner to make an excellent save from a long range effort. Neither side were able to create any real guilt edged chances as both midfields seemed to cancel each other out.

With both teams unable to find the crucial breakthrough and the prospect of extra time looming, both teams seemed edgy about throwing too much into their respective attacks. Eventually the two sides were forced to continue their equally balanced battle for a further half an hour. Credit should be paid to both goalkeepers and both defences who maintained excellent levels of concentration despite being physically and mentally tired come the end of 120 minutes of full blooded play.

Once the penalty takers were chosen, both squads waited arm-in-arm on the halfway line as the shootout took place. Callington couldn't have made a worse start when both their first two spot kicks were blazed over the bar. Truro managed to keep their cool and convert their first two penalties which seemed to swing the tie well in their favour. However, Callington's leading scorer Sam May was able to convert her kick to raise Callington's confidence.

Then with Truro missing their next kick, Callington had the chance to score again and pile the pressure back on. Young left winger Sam Veale took the long walk and calmly placed her effort into the bottom corner. Next up was Truro's LB Reeks who confidently smashed the ball home beyond the out-stretched keeper. It was then another of Callington's young players, Annaliese Noakes, who stepped up to put the ball away and level the score at 3-3. Truro's final kick would then either win them the game or take it to sudden death. The high pressure penalty was put over the bar to take the shoot out to the knockout stages.

To the relief of Callington's entire squad and supporters, Natalie Rider fired her spot kick off the underside of the bar and into the back of the net. With only an inch difference between the kicks, Truro's next penalty cannoned off the bar and away to safety, sparking jubilant celebrations from Callington who managed to win their first ever league and cup during the past two weeks.