Three Kings United concluded the 47th season of Lotto Northern Premier Women's League football on a winning note at Seddon Fields on August 30, their solid 3-0 win over Western Springs the outcome of an entertaining and enterprising affair in which "Hoops" player-coach, Rebecca O'Neill, twice hit the woodwork for the home team. The tone of the contest was set inside the first five minutes, during which both teams went close to scoring. Arisa Takeda's sizzling twenty-five yard free-kick scorched United's crossbar in the third minute, to which United responded with a raid on the Springs goal which Ashleigh Emery gathered. But her clearance landed at the feet of Emma Leaming, whose poor first touch prevented her from firing first-time into an empty net. Springs swiftly swept downfield, and another poor clearance, this time by debutant United goalkeeper Geena Rawson, landed straight at the feet of Jade Morrissey, who should have done far better than to draw a solid blocking save from the newcomer in the fifth minute. After that close call, Three Kings started to get into their stride. Maisy Dewell's eleventh minute corner wasn't cleared, prompting Georgia Martin to unleash a snapshot which Emery did superbly well to keep out - hers was a terrific reflex save. Rebecca Burrows - how United have improved with her playing in a central defensive role - then won the ball in the centre circle and swept downfield before dragging a twenty-five yarder past the post, a fate which also met a Tessa Leong piledriver a minute later, with Emery diving in vain as the ball flashed past her right-hand upright. Dewell was next to chance her arm for the visitors - Emery grabbed her attempt beneath the bar - while the goalkeeper was right behind Burrows' twenty yard free-kick half-way through the first half, the set-piece specialist opting for a violent attempt on goal rather than the subtle up-and-downer over the wall and just under the bar by the near post. While Springs were engineering attractive passages of play, Rina Hirano was struggling to make any headway against Burrows, whose reading of the game left the striker frustrated time and time again as she looked to exploit the promptings of her team-mates. United, meanwhile, kept carving out openings, the next, in the 25th minute, featuring Alosi Bloomfield, who won the ball half-way inside "The Hoops"' half and surged forward before feeding the overlapping Genevieve Ryan. Her cross, targeting Ella Russ, was cut out by Emma Phelps, but Bloomfield was following in and fair lashed her shot over the bar. When the visitors next raided with intent, Leaming sent Russ scampering down the left, from where she cut inside before presenting Leong with a chance. Sophie Dyer's challenge put the striker off, so much so that she completely failed to exploit the shooting opportunity which presented itself. Two goals in three minutes late in the first half rewarded Three Kings for their attacking endeavour. The first, in the 38th minute, saw Bloomfield feed Ryan on the right, from where she picked out Leong with her cross. The striker turned but was tackled in the act of shooting, with the ball breaking for Russ. Her shot was parried by Emery, but Leaming was following in, and gleefully tucked the ball home from close range. Springs were still reeling from that blow when they were dealt another, four minutes before half-time. Dewell picked out Leong this time, and her touch to Russ allowed the youngster to play the ball wide to Ryan. Her lob was delicious, a perfectly judged attempt which arced over Emery's flailing fingertips and landed in the far corner of the net - 2-0. Leaming was denied by Emery soon afterwards, with the goalkeeper sparking an instant counter-attack. The initial thrust was foiled by Three Kings' defence, but not so the next one, which saw Maggie Pederson's ball take a deflection off substitute Lily Taitimu to land in the stride of Sophie Culpan. With just Rawson to beat, the midfielder squandered a glorious chance to drag her side back into the contest, a miss which was compounded eight minutes into the second half when O'Neill, darting in round the back of the United defence, rose on the far post to meet Takeda's free-kick with a bullet header, only to see her effort crash against the upright. Another Takeda cross soon after again picked out the player-coach, with O'Neill's looping header this time finding the gloves of Rawson. She sparked a

counter-attack which culminated in Dewell outmuscling a defender as she burst into the penalty area before setting up Leong for a shot, only for Takeda to intervene in the act of shooting. United's leading markswoman wasn't to be denied, however, and in the 58th minute she scored what proved to be the final goal of the season - and it was one to savour. Dewell's corner was cleared to the edge of the area, where Leong was lurking with intent. A sumptuous twenty yard volley sailed past Emery and company into the far corner of the net - 3-0. From this point on, the visitors appeared content to see out the match, confident they'd done enough to secure the points. Springs had other ideas, however, and after introducing Maclani Michael to the fray proceeded to give it a right old go in their pursuit of goals. In the 63rd minute, Takeda unleashed a ferocious thirty-five yard free-kick which Rawson parried, then recovered to save at the feet of the newcomer as Michael flew in, looking to lash home the rebound. Eight minutes later, O'Neill rattled the crossbar with a fierce drive as Springs piled on the pressure in search of a goal, shortly after which Takeda flighted in a long-range free-kick which deceived all-comers bar Rawson, who blocked the ball well. It fell invitingly for Michael, however, but she smashed the ball over the bar from ten yards. Eight minutes from time, Leong spurned a golden chance to add a fourth goal against the run of play, with Emery dashing off her line to block with her legs. Her opposite number then foiled another Springs raid, Takeda's corner prompting an almighty scramble which culminated in the goalkeeper hanging onto the ball for dear life. Three minutes from time, Ryan intercepted a Springs pass and instantly fed Leong, who held the ball up well before returning the compliment to the fullback, who stormed into the area, only to see her cross blocked well by Emery. Cue an 88th minute booking for Michael, referee Beth Rattray having seen one too many robust challenges from the Springs substitute, this one flooring Ryan, who has just come back from being out for virtually the entire season with ankle ligament damage. Former "Hoops" starlet Taitimu, an earlier victim of Michael's physical approach to the game, clearly decided enough was enough after this latest challenge, and it soon became clear she is someone who won't go hiding when the chips are down. Retribution was swift and utterly ruthless. When Michael made her way to the by-line as the game headed towards stoppage time, Taitimu was tracking her every move, and when the chance presented itself, she went in hard. Very hard. Michael hit the deck face-down, and didn't move. Taitimu had cleaned her out with the sort of ball-and-all tackle for which the late, great LFC defensive colossus Tommy Smith was renowned. And while United's baby-faced assassin picked up a card for her troubles, it was a small price to pay for the satisfaction she took from squaring the ledger. With interest. A full three minutes elapsed before Michael was able to make her way off the pitch with assistance. And in the time which remained, United were denied a fourth goal by Emery, who smothered Charlotte Tinsley's attempt after she'd been picked out by fellow Three Kings substitute Stella Lawson. The final whistle sounded soon after, concluding a campaign which has had its challenges for both these teams. That Springs managed to survive after losing all eight of their opening matches, scoring just once in that period, is testament to the impact Takeda and Hirano had on their season - without them, things may have been a great deal different for "The Hoops". As for United, after parting ways with Geoff Brogan during the campaign, they were a different team thereafter, with Chris Milicich's tactical tweaks seeing Three Kings emerge as one of the form teams in the second half of the season. They're a far better team than their final fourth placing suggests. Springs:     Emery; Takeda, O'Brien, Phelps, Dyer; Pederson (Michael, 62 (booked, 88)), O'Neill, Taitimu, Culpan (Atherton, 46); Hirano, Morrissey United:          Rawson; Ryan, Pritchard (Lawson, 72), Burrows, Martin; Dewell, Mathews, Bloomfield; Russ (Taitimu, 42 (booked, 90)), Leong, Leaming (Tinsley, 83) Referee:     Beth Rattray