Farsley Celtic Vixens U-9 girls 2
Wigton Moor U-9 girls 0

Date: Sunday, May 11

Competition: West Riding Girls Football League U-9 Shield Final.

* Click here for Farsley Celtic Clockwatch.

* Click here for latest news from Farsley village.

* Click here for latest sport in Farsley.

The girls' form this season lifted them to third in the league but they saved their best for last in the Shield final against Wigton Moor.

Farsley played with a style and confidence that matched the sunshine and after taking an early lead never looked likely to surrender their grip on the trophy.

Cheered on by an army of family and friends at Pontefract Sports & Social Club the Vixens went ahead on three minutes.

Lucy Donnelly won the ball in the Wigton Moor half and passed to Dani Horner who laid it off for Katie Leeming to fire past the keeper.
The three linked up well again minutes later and nearly extended the Vixens' lead. Lucy played a one-two with Katie before passing to Dani who was denied by the keeper diving at her feet and pushing the ball out for a corner. Dani's corner found Katie and she passed it on to Lucy but the keeper got down well again to save at her feet.

A minute later Bethany Lewis found Katie with a throw-in and she put in a superb cross for Dani whose shot was pushed behind for another corner.

Then Chloe Watson stormed forward before finding Katie who shot just wide.

Defensive duo Chloe and Bethany, helped by midfielder Charlotte Green, mopped up everything at the back, leaving Vixens goalkeeper Megi Moo with little to do.

Despite the Vixens' pressure Wigton Moor could have equalised just before half-time. Bethany's clearance was intercepted by an attacker but as she raced towards goal Bethany made a superb recovering tackle.
The Vixens thought they'd doubled their lead a minute into the second half. Katie intercepted a goal-kick but her shot and follow-up were brilliantly saved by the keeper.

When the ball again rebounded out to Katie she found the back of the net only for the referee to rule the keeper had been fouled in the goalmouth scramble.

Four minutes later and the Vixens were 2-0 up. Bethany tackled an attacker to win the ball deep inside the Vixens' half. Her clearance found Megan Flaherty who took the ball round an opponent and into Wigton Moor's half before a neat pass to Dani. Dani laid it off to Katie and she grabbed her second with a fine finish.

Lucy, Rachel Brown and Emily Clarke - playing against girls two years older than herself - linked up well for some slick attacking moves one of which ended with Emily almost netting a third for Farsley.

But there were to be no more goals and at the final whistle the victorious Vixens celebrated on the pitch with their fans, a bottle of non-alcoholic bubbly and U-9 Cup winners, the Farsley Celtic Foxes, before captain Megi - who had bravely played on despite a hand injury -- was presented with their trophy.

Back at Throstle Nest the girls paraded the trophy into the packed clubhouse and had the bar bell rung out in their honour before Farsley Celtic director Martin Carrington told them how impressed he had been with the high standard of football played by them and the Foxes in their finals.

Vixens squad: Megi Moo (captain), Chloe Watson, Bethany Lewis, Lucy Donnelly, Katie Leeming, Dani Horner, Megan Flaherty, Charlotte Green, Rachel Brown, Emily Clarke.

Goals: Katie Leeming (2)

Coaches' girls of the match: Katie Leeming, Chloe Watson.

Martin Carrington's girl of the match: Bethany Lewis

Special Award: Emily Clarke

Manager: Wayne Mennell

Coaches: Dean Horner, Lee Watson, Simon Clarke.