Report by Kevin Salter

The final League match of the season, not only had the most riding on it but was also one of the most fiercely contested encounters of the season.

Sandy Ladies started the brighter of the two sides and it was slightly against the run of play when Levy Green Whites took the lead on 8 minutes. Frankie played the ball through to Natasha and her pressure on the Sandy defender saw her knock the ball past her own goalkeeper into the net for an own goal.

The remainder of the first half saw Sandy play a really intense pressing game and left The Whites with little alternative but to counter attack and try to catch them on the break. Chances were few and far between with battles being contested across the pitch and no quarter being given by either side.

The Whites were relieved to get to the break with a 1 nil lead, but this was short lived when a Sandy corner was attacked at the near post and the scoreline was level on 48 minutes.

The game settled down once more into a pattern of play which saw Sandy playing through the middle and both Leigh and Emma having their hands full in the centre backs role and then trying to relieve the pressure and distributing the ball down the flanks for Ellen and Natasha to run at the full backs.

On 66 minutes Levy once more had the precious lead when a speculative shot by Cally Salter from 25 yards was inexplicably spilled by the Sandy goalkeeper and the League title was once more in sight.

Sandy refused to lie down and mounted wave after wave of attacks and the remainder of the half seemed to take an age! With just 5 minutes of the match remaining Sandy won another corner and yet again put in a dangerous ball, Mia Hickey was harshly adjudged to have made a push in the box and a hotly disputed penalty was awarded. Frankie Novelli in goal had no chance with a fierce penalty fired into the top right hand corner.

The final 5 minutes were far from straight forward and the last few seconds saw Sandy once more threaten the goal with another fine corner.

The referee blew the final whistle and 11 exhausted Levy Whites players on the pitch (and 2 on the bench) celebrated a priceless point which was enough for the League Title on goal difference.

There were 13 heroes in White and Green today and the achievement of a group of players aged predominantly 16 and 17 at the start of the season to win an established ladies league at the first attempt cannot be understated.

Thanks to both Pru and Frankie for putting on the goal keeper gloves in this high pressure game and player of the match was awarded to Natasha for a tireless committed display throughout.

Next week sees The Whites off to Kempston to contest the League Cup Final vs Flitwick Ladies, looking for a famous double!