After an inspiring team talk from captain Kelly Clarke Winscombe started the match with composure. Both teams were evenly matched with the ball moving from end to end giving the Winscombe midfield of Leanne Gardner, Kelly Clarke and Caroline Marsh a good work out! Player of the match, Kelly Clarke worked tirelessly, leading her team by example throughout, showing some great 3 dimensional skills to lift the ball over defenders sticks and through to forwards Sarah Holland, Gabby Richardson, Hannah Taylor and Hannah Quantick who applied considerable pressure to the Redland goal but were unable to breach the experienced defence, leaving the first half scoreless.

Redland came out fighting at the restart and for the first 15 minutes were virtually camped in the Winscombe half. However, thanks to the hard work of Winscombe’s back four of Caitlin Flood, Juju O’Sullivan, Claudia Routhorn-James & Michelle Isgar and some fine saves by keeper Kate Walker, Redland were unable to capitalise on their many short corners.

The home team had specifically focused on defending short corners and setting up a defensive press to win possession of the ball back in midfield at training this week and this really began to work in Winscombe’s favour as renewed confidence saw Winscombe ‘up’ their game by working the ball out and round the back, with fast pace and good communication to allow for attacks from both wings and through the centre. Both teams had goals disallowed as they failed to hit the back boards on short corners.

The match could easily have ended with both teams settling for a draw – but Winscombe were having none of it. With only 2 minutes of the match remaining – Richardson struck for Winscombe; first by winning a short corner and then converting it herself with a fine finish to give Winscombe all 3 points.

The John Hodge Solicitors' player of the match was Kelly Clarke.