Having drawn three and won only one of the round robin matches, the Devon FA report that their patched up team somehow managed to get through to the final of the competition where they were to meet Wiltshire undefeated.
The other three counties taking part were the hosts, Gloucestershire – with whom they drew 1-1 when conceding with a minute left, having taken the lead through Kate Finch – Dorset whom they beat 1-0 and Somerset, with whom they also drew, throwing away a 1-0 lead with 90 seconds left on the clock.
The round robin match against Wiltshire ended 0-0, leaving the total goals scored by Devon in reaching the final to just 3.
So to the final against Wiltshire, who had taken 8 points to Devon’s 6 on their route to the decider.
There was little to choose between the teams in the early stages but as the game opened up, Wiltshire’s slicker passing game was pushing Devon onto the defensive.
Devon’s captain Nat Mathews was doing a great job instilling discipline into the defensive line and despite their best efforts, Wiltshire could not find a way through.
Both teams had played 100 minutes of football to get to this stage, each of the 4 round robin games being of 25 minutes duration with no half time, and it was beginning to tell when, with 12 minutes left, a pass out of defence found Kate Finch wide on the right, who cut in to place her shot low across the Wiltshire keeper into the far corner to give Devon the lead.
This proved to be the only goal of the game, Devon winning the trophy by the narrowest of margins.
Devon’s captain was presented with the trophy by Sue Henson-Green of Gloucestershire FA.
Source / photo – devonfa.com
