Western Springs have one hand on the Lotto Northern Premier Women's League championship trophy after a week in which they have seen off both of their main rivals in the title race. Paul Temple's charges came from behind to account for Lynn-Avon United 3-1 under the Seddon Fields lights on Wednesday evening - see separate story, and on Sunday, they extinguished the faint hopes title-holders Three Kings United held of a third successive triumph by downing the outgoing champions 1-0 at Keith Hay Park. Springs completely dominated the first twenty minutes, to such an extent that Three Kings barely crossed the half-way line in this time. Only a fine flying save by the outstanding Aroon Clansey prevented Rebecca O'Neill from opening the scoring in the fourth minute, after the midfielder had been played in by Renee Leota. The roles were reversed three minutes later, with O'Neill setting up Leota, but the outcome was the same, Clansey's intervention denying Springs the opening goal. Instead, it almost came at the other end in the ninth minute, when the teenage terrors, Annalie Longo and Betsy Hassett, weaved their special brand of magic to carve open the visitors' defence on United's first foray into Springs' half. Pam Yates thwarted Longo's effort with a fine block, and swooped confidently on the ball seconds later after Zoe Thompson had powered her way to the by-line and whipped in a low cross intended for Lauren Murray. Hannah Wall then enjoyed successive opportunities to beat Clansey, with Leota instrumental in the creation of both. But on each occasion, the talented young striker fired straight at the goalkeeper, who was grateful to see Grace Vincent's twenty-five yarder narrowly clear her crossbar just shy of the half-hour mark. Three Kings' defence was working overtime under Springs' onslaught, with Kristy Hill celebrating her maiden international call-up by making a string of timely tackles and interceptions, aided particularly by Hannah Rishworth and Sarah Gibbs. Indeed, it was Hill and Gibbs who engineered the best chance of the half just after the half-hour mark, United's captain sending their effervescent fullback surging over half-way. She played the ball wide to Roseanne Cox, whose deep cross was gathered by Longo. Her delivery was headed out by Chelsey Wood to Gibbs, who unleashed a twenty-five yard screamer which dipped late and crashed against the crossbar. Given their general dominance to this point, Springs were rather taken aback by this effort, and still hadn't recovered when well-performed referee Jan-Hendrik Hintz awarded United one of the handful of free-kicks which graced this very cleanly contested encounter ten minutes before half-time. Rebecca Sowden stepped up and curled the ball over all-comers onto the head of Hill, whose header lacked the power to test Yates. Unlike Jesse Verdon's drive, two minutes into the second half, which stung the gloves of Clansey as the visitors stormed onto the attack straight from the resumption. “The Hoops” kept on coming, with O'Neill sending Leota through the inside right channel at pace two minutes later. She rattled the side-netting with her effort, while Clansey's poor goal-kick seconds later presented Wall with a great opportunity which she sent careering past the post, much to the `keeper's relief. Clansey was soon in action again, saving at the feet of Leota as she looked to turn home a Verdon cross. The `keeper then blocked at the striker's feet, after O'Neill, Vincent and Priscilla Duncan combined to set up Leota, who warmed Clansey's gloves with a rasping drive seconds later. Amidst this onslaught from Springs, United hit the post! Hassett and Longo led a left-flank raid which

Grace Vincent (Springs) and Hannah Rishworth (TKU) in aerial combat Priscilla Duncan (Springs) lays the ball off, watched by Rebecca Sowden (TKU) and Grace Vincent (Springs) Sarah Gibbs (TKU) executes a flying volley, forcing Leanne Tiffen (Springs) to take evasive action Renee Leota (Springs) holds off Roseanne Cox (TKU) Hannah Wall (Springs)

also featured Cox and Murray, but the cross intended for Thompson was headed out by Liz Milne. Only as far as Sowden, however, and from twenty yards out she unleashed a piledriver which crashed against Yates' right-hand post. In the 57th minute, United had another chance to open the scoring. Clansey's raking clearance sent Murray scampering through, and the young out-and-out goalscorer sized up the situation superbly in opting to lash a first-time volleyed effort goalwards. Yates did well to save this at the second attempt. Her clearance was the catalyst for what proved to be the game's only goal, although it was the game's star turn, Leota, who deserves the plaudits for making it possible. Her willingness to battle for possession earned her the ball on the right, and she cut in between three defenders before lashing a fifteen-yarder low beyond Clansey and inside her near post. 1-0 to Springs, and a lead they deserved, and looked to build upon instantly. Clansey blocked a Leota effort to safety with her legs after O'Neill had sent the striker through with just the `keeper to beat. Wood delivered the resulting corner, which picked out Wall. Her bullet-like header flashed past the post, four minutes before Longo sent Murray through the inside left channel, only for the striker to be tackled in the act of shooting by the fast-closing figure of Abby Erceg. Fourteen minutes from time, Wall's frustrating day in front of goal continued. O'Neill out-battled Cox for possession half-way inside Springs' half, and promptly picked out Wall with her pass. The striker played a one-two with Leota, only to shoot straight at Clansey upon receipt of the return. Two minutes later, Leota's quick feet in the penalty area completely wrong-footed Nicole Stratford, enabling the striker to get to the by-line. She pulled the ball back into the path of Vincent, but Hill flung herself in the way of her shot to stave off this particular raid. Back came United on the counter-attack, Sowden linking with Hassett down the left. Her cross picked out substitute Merissa Smith, whose shot beat the advancing figure of Yates but clipped the post and ricocheted to safety. Springs stormed downfield once more, ten minutes from time, with Leota at the forefront. Through the inside-right channel she strode, only to find Clansey doing a more than passable impersonation of Pat Jennings - the king of saving with his legs - once more. Seconds later, Wall found herself in on goal, but Stratford launched herself at the shot and directed the ball for a corner which Milne delivered to the far post. There lurked substitute Jamie Hackett, who sent her drive flashing over the bar. Back came United, who still fancied their chances of an equaliser. Hassett and Sowden were in cahoots this time round, with the latter's twenty-yarder sliding past Yates' right-hand post. It was to be their last chance, but not the last of the game. For that fell Springs' way in stoppage time, and featured the two players who were the deserving winners of the day's individual accolades. Erceg's free-kick picked out Leota, who wrong-footed Jamie Osbourne before letting fly, only to see Clansey save with her legs yet again. The one effort from Leota she hadn't been able to deny ultimately proved to be the game's decisive moment, and leaves Western Springs in a situation where, with five games to play, a maiden Northern Premier Women's League crown is theirs to lose. Three Kings:     Clansey; Stratford (Osbourne, 85), Hill, Rishworth, Gibbs; Longo (Smith, 67), Hassett, Sowden; Thompson, Murray, Cox W. Springs:     Yates; Wood (Fisher, 74), Erceg, Milne; Tiffen (Hackett, 74), Duncan, O'Neill, Vincent, Verdon; Leota, Wall (Pearl, 89) Referee:     Jan-Hendrik Hintz