Panthers' team effort wins final

Panthers 3, Cubs 2

APPROVED Personnel Panthers kept a firm grasp on the trophy courtesy of three fine goals against a Cubs side desperately missing two regulars. Panthers had absentees of their own, most notably island midfielder Kath Hyman, but the team on the pitch lifted themselves so well and deserved their success.

'They all played so well today; everyone held their shape,' said skipper Justine Whalley.

'We were missing Kath but moving Helen Wills to right half worked a treat.'

These two squads know each other so well, yet always manage to produce something special.

It is rare either side scores a dull goal, although the final strike of the game came after a scramble in a cluttered D.

Jacky Davies put Panthers ahead on eight minutes with a fine individual effort.

Picking the ball up on the left of the pitch, she moved inside, cut across the D past some ineffectual challenges and then hit a precise shot back to the keeper's right.

Chantelle de la Mare thought she had doubled that advantage from a short corner, only to have the strike ruled out by the umpire for it having been too high. It was no real surprise - de la Mare had undercut a couple of 16-yard hits and free hits before that.

But she was not to be denied as the first half drew to a close.

Panthers forced two consecutive short corners. From the first, de la Mare aimed to keeper Gemma Duport's right, where Philippa Nicolle produced a fine stop and clearance.

Immediately afterwards, however, Panthers had another go and de la Mare picked her spot low to Duport's left, the ball arrowing into the corner.

Before that goal, Hollyer-Hill had burst clear to round off a fine, incisive move. Ellie Knowelden brought the ball out of defence and set the rangy striker away. Hollyer-Hill, all direct running and pace, enjoyed being free of Hughes for once and slipped the ball past the advancing keeper.

With Ali Le Tocq and Andi Ferbrache on after the break, Cubs were more composed. But still the team looked short on attacking options without Debbie Allen and Jill Holdstock, relying too much on seeking to benefit from Hollyer-Hill's pace.

Panthers moved two goals clear on 50min. Lucy Slimm crossed from the right to the top of the D where Davies touched a neat pass to take out the final defender and Alex Hanna slipped the ball inside the far post.

Lucy Anderson clattered a post and Duport was kept busy as Panthers tried to put the game beyond their opponents.

With Hughes and Wills enjoying a storming match and Whalley the hub of Panthers' simple pass-and-move play, it looked increasingly likely that they would hold on, but a late flourish brought a second goal for Cubs, Andi Ferbrache applying the vital touch in a crowded D.