Oxford United Women were beaten 1-0 by Ipswich Town Women on the final day of the season to miss out on the title.
Ipswich opened the scoring in the 59th minute through Freya Godfrey and the U's couldn't find an answer, the result meaning the U's finish third in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division.
The U’s, as they had to, came out firing. Lacy Liggett fed Carly Johns for an early chance within two minutes, but Oxford’s top scorer couldn’t get her strike off, before Jenna Legg sent a strike sailing just wide of the top right corner from the edge of the box in the fifth minute.
As the game developed, Ipswich grew, and Amy Goddard and Riva Casley had work to do at the heart of the Yellow defence.
Oxford had the better chances of the half, none better than when Johns broke into the Ipswich box in the 24th minute. The striker had two bites of the cherry, both saved well by Sarah Quantrill.
Rose Kite didn’t have a lot to do in the other goal in an understandably cagey game, and Johns and Quantrill clashed again as the latter chased Ligget’s ball over the top. Johns tumbled in the box, but the referee waved away the Yellow appeals for a penalty.
Goalless at the half, and with Watford leading 3-0 at the break the U’s knew they needed a goal to be crowned Champions.
Kite did well under ealy pressure at the start of the second half, punching away two inswinging corners decisively amongst the bodies.
Ipswich were much better in the second period, and found the lead through Godfrey just before the hour mark. The forward, on loan from Arsenal, drove down the left and poked the ball under Kite to make it 1-0.
Tash Stephens, Taome Oliver, Iesha Swaby and Sarah King replaced Liggett, Cole, Johns and Shelly Provan after the goal as the U's tried to find a way back into the game and the title race, but Ipswich and Quantrill stood strong.
The Yellow shirts battled for the badge, as they have done all season, but it finished in a cruel way to end a magnificent year having only lost three games, and in which they've topped the table for the majority of the campaign.
A team to be proud of. A season to be proud of. Title contenders until the last minute.
We regroup and go again next year. Thank you for your incredible support this season.
LINEUP: Kite, Provan (King 85), Casley, Goddard, Gotch, Cole (Oliver 68), Burridge, Legg, Liggett (Stephens 63), Johns (Swaby 80), McLachlan