Three Kings United clinched their first Lotto Northern Premier Women's League title in nine years on July 31, coming from behind to down National Women's Knockout Cup holders Glenfield Rovers 3-2 at McFetridge Park. In an often error-strewn match which saw the ball taking on all the properties of a hot potato far too often to allow much in the way of quality football to take place, Glenfield had the better of the early exchanges, but it was Three Kings who engineered the opening chances. Mei Morton was responsible for the first of them, stripping Claudia Bunge of the ball as she dribbled out of defence in the twelfth minute. But the striker failed to capitalise on her reward, shooting straight at Alice Noyer, who easily gobbled up a Hannah Robert free-kick three minutes later, after Maddie Jorgensen had felled Hannah Blake on the edge of the area. Noyer then smothered a twenty-yarder from Martine Puketapu in the 23rd minute, after Isabella Richards had won the ball in midfield and allowed Tessa Leong to take charge of proceedings and pick out Puketapu with something rarely seen in the match to this point, a pass of precision. United pressed again four minutes later, Alosi Bloomfield this time the architect of an opening which enabled Puketapu to dart into the penalty area and turn inside the well-performed Liz Milne. In doing so, she ran straight into trouble, in the form of the covering figure of Bunge, who was able to protect the ball to enable Noyer to come and gather it, the 'keeper somehow injuring herself in the process. Thankfully she was able to continue. Glenfield finally mustered an attack of note on the half-hour, with Milne linking up with Steph Skilton, for whom this was her final appearance for Rovers this year before returning to Syracuse University for her final year of study there. The twice-capped Football Fern turned Shivi Anthony superbly before slipping in a low cross for Katie Rood, whose touch back invited Dayna Stevens to let fly. Rivalina Fuimaono dived to her left to touch the shot to safety, with the ball being cleared to Sonja Bain, who returned it with interest, only to see Fuimaono plunging to her right to bring the attack to an unsatisfactory conclusion from Glenfield's perspective. Two minutes later, the sight of a raiding Rood roused Rovers' rank and file, the striker weaving through three challenges before succumbing to Caitlin Pritchard's timely challenge on the edge of the penalty area. Ten minutes later, the deadlock was broken in stunning fashion. United were awarded a free-kick in the middle of the park, some thirty-five yards out from goal. Richards initially lined it up but stepped aside as Jess Philpot came striding forward from the back. Without breaking stride, she unleashed an absolute thunderbolt which stormed into the top left-hand corner of Noyer's net, the 'keeper getting an uncertain hand to it to help the ball on its way. It was a rare moment of genuine quality in the game to this point, and one which, while giving United the lead, prompted Glenfield to redouble their efforts in a match which they were treating as a dress rehearsal for their upcoming National Women's Knockout Cup semi-final at the end of August. Within two minutes of going behind, Rovers should have been level. Milne motored down the left past three before flighting a lovely cross into the goalmouth which Grace Evans somehow contrived to direct past the far post. It looked easier to score. Milne was a menace down the Glenfield left throughout the duration of the contest, and picked up some hefty whacks for her efforts, by far the worst of which was a scything mis-timed challenge from Richards on half-way in the shadows of the half-time whistle. Thank heavens for the former Football Fern's sturdy shin pads, as the alternative doesn't bear thinking about, even now. She was very fortunate to walk away relatively unscathed, make no mistake. As was Richards, who copped a yellow card for what could very easily have been considered a dismissal offence by referee Wendy McNeely. Seconds later, Skilton was denied a goal by the offside flag, while the same player had a shot deflected to safety soon afterwards, after a Jess Innes corner had been headed out by Philpot to Rood. The final act of the half could well have seen United double their advantage. Hannah Robert flighted a free-kick to the far side of the area, where Puketapu was lurking with intent. She met the ball flush on the volley, but directed her effort straight at Noyer. As was the case in the first half, Rovers were first out of the blocks in the second spell, but this time they offered far more attacking thrust, with Geena Gross' 49th minute ball forward the source of an opportunity which Robert shouldn't have allowed to eventuate. The fullback's intention was to let the ball run out of play, but its momentum stopped, allowing Evans

and Stevens to close in on Robert and force the error, from which Rood was the beneficiary. She picked out Bain with her cross, but let's just say that some things are better left unsaid where attempting to describe what happened next is concerned! United counter-attacked straight away through Leong, who fed Blake with a ball through the middle. With Innes on her back and Noyer fast approaching, she managed to direct her effort past the 'keeper but past the post as well - a great chance for a second goal spurned. And how Glenfield made United pay just seconds later. Rood picked out Stevens, who took full advantage of an untimely stumble by Pritchard to check inside the defender and let rip. The ball ricocheted off the recovering figure of Pritchard and flew beyond Fuimaono into the top far corner of the net - 1-1. Both goals survived scares in the next fifteen minutes. Robert unleashed a twenty-yarder which flew inches past Noyer's right-hand post on the hour, following a cleared Blake free-kick, while two minutes later, Fuimaono directed a clearance straight to Rood, who evaded a challenge before seeing her deflected curler grabbed rather gratefully by the relieved goalkeeper. In the 66th minute, Noyer dodged a bullet. Blake invited Richards to curl in a cross to the near post which the 'keeper hesitated about coming for. Leong had no such uncertainty about her, flying in to meet the ball, but she wasn't quite able to direct her effort on target, much to Noyer's relief as she greedily grabbed hold of the ball. Two minutes later, that relief turned to delight, as Rovers took the lead. Gross led the charge, before feeding Innes, who nutmegged Pritchard before slipping a pass into the stride of Skilton. Without skipping a beat, she buried the ball beyond Fuimaono from ten yards to ensure she would sign off with a goal, no matter what the remaining 22 minutes had in store. Straight from the kick-off, Robert roamed forward and unleashed a cross-shot which Leong darted in to attempt to guide goalwards with her head. She failed to make contact, but the ball kept on going, and Noyer was grateful to see it clear her left-hand post by a yard at most. Still United pressed, knowing that a point would be enough to win the league. And they drew level fourteen minutes from time when Bunge's wayward pass was pounced on by Blake, who buccaneered down the right before battering a low drive under the diving figure of Noyer and into the net - 2-2. That set up a grandstand finish, with Rovers desperate to become the first team to lower Three Kings' colours in the league this season, and the champions-elect every bit as eager to claim a fifteenth successive victory and remain on course to complete the first perfect league campaign since Eden's record-shattering 1987 triumph, just the fifth time in history the feat had been accomplished. Frustration was much in evidence during this period, with Rood's rising volume levels an audible response to same. Gross was fortunate to escape a yellow card for dissent following a meeting of the minds with referee McNeely - not the sort of dispute any player should get involved in! - while rugged tackles and stray passes were very much part of the package. Then came the drama. Six minutes from time, Gross knocked one over the top, and away went Rood, with Pritchard in hot pursuit. The striker bore down on goal, but advancing towards her was the formidable figure of Fuimaono, who timed her plunge to perfection to pluck the ball off Rood's toes - a terrific save. And its worth was proved four minutes later, when United seized the day. Puketapu - like Morton, anonymous for long periods throughout proceedings - roared into life when push came to shove, only to be scythed down by Jorgensen just outside the penalty area, an 87th minute challenge which earned the defender a yellow card. Cue Blake, who unleashed a curling twenty-yarder around the wall and into the net right by Noyer's left-hand upright, the 'keeper's crestfallen look her initial response to being beaten all ends up at her near post - she cut a disconsolate figure soon after the final whistle. Before which she could have been beaten again, this time by Puketapu, who reacted faster following a collision with Jorgensen to race into the penalty area and force a save from Rovers' 'keeper. But it was the three she'd conceded which secured the title for Three Kings, and kept alive their hopes of realising two rarely accomplished feats in the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League - a perfect league record, and a century of goals in the season, a target reached on just four occasions in league history, most recently by Claudelands Rovers in 2012. Glenfield:     Noyer; Gross, Jorgensen (booked, 87), Bunge, Milne; Skilton, Bain, Innes; Evans (Hallford, 53), Stevens, Rood Three Kings:     Fuimaono; Anthony, Pritchard, Philpot, Robert; Leong, Bloomfield, Richards (booked, 43); Morton, Puketapu, Blake Referee:     Wendy McNeely