Sunday 1st February
Nelson Place, 11.30am

The first Sunday of February saw Glenavon Ladies Futsal take on 22nd Ladies in the final league fixture of the season.

As has been the case for the last few fixtures, the squad was again stretched to almost breaking point with only 5 players available.

Sunday saw Glenavon take on a very changed 22nd team from the first fixture, knowing a win would mean they finished top of the league standings after Ballymena had won their game (9-2) first up in the morning.

With the pressure on to get a result and starting with only 4 players Glenavon were pegged back by a very useful and determined 22nd team. After 5 minutes Glenavon were up to full strength and started to get a foothold in the game.
As with the previous week however finishing chances proved to be at a premium with Glenavon guilty of missing some glorious chances.

Then suddenly the Lurgan Blues scored 2 quick goals to settle the nerves, Beth with the first and the second following a marvellous piece of imagination from Jess allowing Becks to score.

As in previous weeks as the half wore on Glenavon started to dominate the game through controlling the ball and making 22nd work hard.

Bar one occasion, when a shot squirmed under her, Megan McCabe in nets was comfortably dealing with everything 22nd threw at her.

The second half started with the 22nd determined to push Glenavon back and not let them get into their stride but an excellent goal from Beth Chambers allowed Glenavon to settle again and to control the ball and dictate the game.

As the second half wore on Glenavon scored 3 more, the second of which seemed to totally deflate a determined 22nd.

The final goal of the half was a pile driver of a freekick from Jess which was wildly celebrated in the crowd.🫣

After 22nd fashioned a couple of half chances, there was no more scoring as the lack of numbers began to tell on Glenavon, as the energy levels dropped. Encouraged to control the ball and conserve energy Glenavon saw the game out, winning 6-0.

The result sees Glenavon finish the top of the table and win the Championship. Finishing top makes the team the number one seed going into the playoffs.Coach Craig Morrow said after the match “I need to be careful with what I say today. During the week we found out that the goalposts in the competition had been moved. Supposedly we don’t win the league today and can’t be crowned league winners as that is determined by who wins the playoffs, in other words a team that finishes in fourth place can win the league even though they can have finished miles behind, in terms of points, the team at the top of the table. In my opinion that is just madness and makes a mockery of the competition and insults the teams that have been consistent and put the effort in throughout the season.

On today’s match it was quickly evident that this was a vastly changed and very determined 22nd team. I find it strange they have struggled this season as they really pushed us today before we broke away from them.

It was good to have Jess and Beth back today, we needed them, Jess’s flick for our second was unreal in the moment and highlights how good a player she is. Beth scored 2, the second being really important in the context of the match.

Alex had a quietly effective game but unlike her previous game against the 22nd she didn’t want to shoot. Becks followed up last weeks hattrick with another today, can’t say much more than that, superb. Megan in nets had a thankfully comfortable game, she wondered why I had made her Captain for the match but she proved why with her commanding presence and quiet demeanour which helped settle us.

To finish with I just want to say to the whole squad, congratulations as far as I am concerned you are League Champions, your performances have made that possible. To start a season as a new team and as complete strangers, lose your first match playing a team unbeaten in 2 years and then go on an unbeaten run to end of the league season, winning every match, playing superbly well is outstanding. I can’t take any credit for this it is purely down to the players, I am immensely proud of them all and hope they get the credit they deserve.
Now I want them to go finish the season off by winning the separate competition of the playoffs.”

GOALSCORERS: Jess Rea – 1, Beth Chambers- 2, Rebecca Dickson (Becks) – 3

SQUAD: 1. Megan McCabe (Capt), 5. Alex Winnington, 18. Beth Chambers, 16. Jess Rea, 23. Rebecca Dickson