Ladies 1sts finish with brilliant win

Halifax Lades started their last league game of the season against Chapltown knowing that only a win would secure their place in the North League for next season. It was also an important game for Chapeltown who needed one point to win the league.

The early stages of the game were even with both teams playing good hockey. The breakthrough came for Chapeltown after 12 minutes when Eve Bradshaw capitalised on a moment's hesitation in the Halifax defence and stroked the ball neatly in to the net.

Halifax then rallied and pressed Chapeltown deep in to their own half. Steph Jones and Emma Bedford were causing problems for the visitors defence down both flanks and it was only a matter of time before the equaliser came. When it did come it was due to some excellent work by Emily Wilkinson who managed to link up well with Zoe Hartley who broke through the visitors defence and calmly slotted the ball passed the Chapeltown keeper.

The pressure continued as Halifax attacked in waves, and again it was as a result of this pressure the ball broke to Steph Jones inside the area and she made no mistake to put Halifax 2 - 1 ahead.

Chapeltown are not top of the league without good reason and they came back strongly. The Halifax defence held firm, then just on half time Chapeltown earned a penalty corner and Chloe Maxwell struck the ball firmly in to the corner of the net to make the score 2 -2.

The Halifax team were aware that the last 35 minutes of this match would define their whole season as a win would take them to sixth in the table, but any other result could leave them facing the possibility of relegation. Halifax started the second half strongly taking the game to Chapeltown Halifax won a number of penalty corners, and then after 50 minutes the breakthrough came. Emma Crawford scored with a sweetly struck shot to make the score 3 - 2.

Halifax didn't sit back but continued to play some fine hockey and took the game to Chapeltown. Chapeltown needing an equaliser to win the league also played some imaginative and creative hockey in what was a pulsating final 20 minutes.

The Halifax defence, superbly marshalled by captain Jane Geenwood, held firm, and the Halifax team played with real commitment and drive to prevent an excellent Chapeltown team from scoring.

There was to be one final twist in the game as in the last seconds, Chapeltown won a penalty corner. Although the initial shot was blocked the ball fell to a Chapeltown payer who flicked the ball superbly towards the top corner of the net, only for the Halifax goalkeeper, Sharon Crawshaw to make one of the best saves of the season to secure the win for Halifax.