Southwater Junior Academy A team won this year’s Horsham Area Primary Schools Girls Football League tonight.

Going into the third and final meeting on the Tanbridge astroturf as leaders there was a bit of pressure on the Southies as Heron Way had nicked a couple of points off them late in the last meeting and the Steyning and Kingslea front teams were hot on their tail, the latter still due to play them.

Worry not though Southwater parents. Their girls opened up with a 6-0 battering of Leechpool A, put four past their own B team and another three against Heron Way B to set up the all important clash with Kingslea A in their final match. A Kingslea win could have seen them snatch glory at the last but Southwater was having none of it by scoring one and recording their thirteenth clean sheet in a row to see themselves home.

Kingslea A had to settle for third as a consequence of their last match defeat and a good night for Steyning A with three wins and a draw earned them runners-up spot. Heron Way A came fourth, only suffering one defeat over the competition but leaking points through five draws, albeit two of them coming against the top two.

Steyning B’s fine campaign faltered a little third time out but they still managed to finish as the highest placed second team in fifth by holding off Southwater B on superior goal difference. Shelley’s excellent final meeting surge nearly saw them take that fifth place, but as it was they could only draw level with Steyning B and Southwater B and their goal difference was the worst of the three.

Leechpool A recovered well after their Southwater mauling and another defeat to near neighbours Heron Way A by scoring two wins that propelled them to 36 points, one ahead of draw specialists Castlewood and Heron Way B. Castlewood took ninth spot over Heron Way B for although they finished level on points and goal difference with them, they scored more goals. Indeed whilst Heron Way B only conceded nine goals in 13 matches, they only scored two. No guesses about what they’ll be working on in their next training session!

Leechpool B were one of Heron Way B’s goalless draws on their way to a final total of 29 points. Kingslea B were next on 23 but forget the placings they were joyous at the last as a result of getting their first win and their first goals against St Mary’s Pulborough.

Northolmes also finished strong by holding a rising Shelley team to a 1-1 draw courtesy of a super strike from their forward breaking away after a corner they were defending. 21 points to Northolmes and twelfth place, four points ahead of St Mary’s Pulborough in bottom spot. But well done too to the Pulbies, another team gaining their first win with a 1-0 victory over Northolmes, a well deserved reward for their persistence and determination, and meaning no team went winless!

A magnificent competition completed. Well done to all teams and players involved. 

RESULTS

FINAL TABLE