After a fantastic weekend last weekend which saw the Rockets lift the league cup and the trophy for winning the Ashington tournament, the Rockets gathered for another defining game on a blustery morning at Complete Soccer.  Our opponents in the last league game of the season were our closest rivals, North Shields and the equation was simple.  Avoid defeat to become outright under 10 girl’s premier league winners.  A defeat would mean a shared title with North Shields.  But a win would mean a perfect record for competitive football this season with every game to date won.

There was some apprehension in the camp as the girls warmed up.  The enormity of the day was perhaps not lost on them as they seemed a little subdued.  But perhaps that was the 10am start! And things got worse during the warm up when Holly injured a finger saving a shot in the warm up drill.  Megan got stripped as Steve and Trev assessed the extent of the injury.

Bravely Holly decided to take to the field in the first quarter and took her place in nets.  Beth and Livi started at the back with Em flanked by Grace and Abs in midfield and last weekend’s goal scoring machine, Jonesy up front.

The early exchanges were quite evenly fought although if anything North Shields had the upper hand with the wind behind them.  Beth and Livi were in resolute form though and with Emma marking the skilful North Shields attacker closely, North Shields were unable to carve out a genuine chance despite the early territorial advantage.  As the half went on the Rockets increasingly came into the game with Jonesy and Abs looking to link up at every opportunity but they were well marshalled by a strong North Shields back line.  As the half ended, Holly made a routine save but was clearly in some distress and looked unlikely to continue.  The half ended goalless, a slightly tentative opening 12 minutes with neither side wanting to make a mistake which might give the other an early advantage.

The second quarter saw Holly come off to be replaced by Megan in goal in an otherwise unchanged Rockets line up.  This time we had the wind and it was the Rockets who started the stronger gaining early possession and forcing play within the North Shields half.  After good pressure from Abs, North Shields conceded a throw in not far from being level with their box.  Ordinarily, Em races over to take a long throw in but Abs sensed the chance to capitalise on a for once disorganised North Shields defence and took a quick throw to Jonesy on the edge of the box.  With her marker not tight, Jonesy swivelled to face goal and fired a great shot into the net to give the Rockets a priceless lead which their play early in the second half just about deserved.  The goal gave the Rockets the confidence to continue to press forward and after a great through ball from Jonesy, Abs was unlucky to see her ball bounce back off the foot of the post and away to safety.  It was by no means all Rockets though and North Shields were a constant threat with Grace and Em putting in a terrific shift in midfield to get back and support the defence when North Shields were attacking.  And Beth made a couple of cool interceptions and strode confidently out of defence to set up a string of Rockets attacks.

With the half time whistle approaching, Em picked out Jonesy wide left and she attacked the defence forcing a corner.  The wind was swirling and very much in the Rockets favour and Jonesy floated over a brilliant corner which somehow evaded everyone and sailed into the net.  A second goal for Jonesy to double the Rockets lead and provide a little bit of breathing space.

The third quarter saw Rose take Beth’s place in defence and Holly come into midfield for Grace.  North Shields had the advantage of the wind and the first few minutes were end to end with both defences making last ditch tackles to prevent clear goal scoring opportunities.  Abs and Holly both had chances to extend the Rockets lead but fired wide.  Em was continuing to marshal the midfield and got in a couple of timely tackles in the box and when the striker evaded Em’s attentions Livi was switched on and made sure that North Shields had no real sight of goal.  Having the wind gave the North Shields keeper a great opportunity to show off her kicking skills and as the half wore on she launched a number of kicks deep into the Rockets half.  From the first, Megan had to be alert to the bounce and came off her line to collect the ball confidently.  From the second, the North Shields striker was in very close attendance, but again Megan came out bravely to collect the ball.  The final action of the quarter saw Em go on a jinking run down the right hand side and pass to Jonesy on the edge of the box who saw her inventive shot palmed over the bar for a corner from which the Rockets were unable to create a clear chance.  And the score remained unchanged at 2v0 with just one quarter to play.

It was clear by this stage that the wind was a significant advantage and Trev and Steve stressed this to the girls as they prepared to take to the field for the last 12 minutes of their league campaign.  The Rockets again started brightly with Jonesy a constant thorn in the side of the North Shields defence, always buzzing around looking to pinch the ball or put in a telling tackle in the attacking third of the pitch.  But North Shields continued to break with purpose and skill knowing that a goal would get them right back into the game.  From one attack Em got in a superb block tackle which denied a certain goal and which left the North Shield attacker needing treatment.  There was no question that there had been a foul, despite Megan shouting a little too loudly for Trev and Steve’s attention “Was that a penalty?”  It was a terrific tackle and epitomised Em’s season.

When the game got back underway, the Rockets pressed forward and were unlucky to see the ball run out of play for a North Shields throw in.  Dangerously, the North Shields defender threw the ball back to her keeper who, seeing Jonesy advancing, had no choice but to pick the ball up.  The referee had no choice but to point for a Rockets free kick just inside the North Shields box.  Jonesy stepped up to place the ball but with a congested penalty area and a wall not far away, it wasn’t clear what options were open to her.  Jonesy sensed revenge for an excellent free kick which North Shields had scored against us earlier in the season.  And revenge it was with a peach of a free kick slammed home with deadly accuracy to give Jonesy her third crucial hat trick in a week – firstly in the cup final, then in the final of the Ashington tournament and now in the final league game of the season which would decide the destination of the premier league.  The say “Cometh the hour, cometh the man” ... Well for the Rockets in the last seven days “Cometh the hour, cometh Jonesy!”

With the clock running down, the game was being played out in midfield.  North Shields were desperate to get into the Rockets final third but found it difficult to do so with the Rockets defending resolutely.  And the Rockets had the wind and looked dangerous on the break.  From one attack, Jonesy pressured the defender into conceding a corner which she rushed over to take.  With the Rockets pushing forward in numbers and with Abs lurking menacingly at the back post, Jonesy curled in another delightful corner kick which the North Shields defender headed, unfortunately, into her own goal.

The final whistle sounded and the Rockets shook hands with their rivals who had given their all the day.  And then the celebrations started.  Bedlington Town Rockets, under 10 Premiership Champions of  2010/11.  Played 18 league games, won 18 league games.  And the league title made it an amazing treble for the Rockets in the last 7 days.  What a season.  What a team.  The Rockets have given us all so much enjoyment this season – playing great football in a good spirit and all of the girls have developed as footballers in the last twelve months.  We have three summer tournaments still to play but for the Girls League our season is over.  We look forward to the start of the new campaign and the challenges and fun that that will bring.  Go Rockets!!!!!

Player of the game (as voted by opposition): Abs – no goals for Abs today but worked really hard to support Jonesy and got back well to defend especially from corners when she almost always seemed to get to the first ball.

Managers’ Player of the Game (as voted by Steve and Trev): Megan and Beth – it was impossible to split these two, at times unsung heroes of the Rockets team.  With Holly injured, Megan confidently picked up the goal keeping duties and looked assured and unbeatable especially in the third quarter when the aerial bombardment took place.  And Beth played a key role in keeping North Shields out at the back and put in an accomplished display in defence.