Carlisle 2nds 2 South Lakes 10

SOUTH Lakes wrapped up the Cumbria League title with a perfect 10 display in Carlisle.

Going into the final league match of the season – three weeks after their last fixture – the Ulverston side needed a point in the county capital to climb back above Penrith at the summit.

They claimed more than just a draw, however, dismantling their improving hosts and ending the season on a supreme high.

The game started nervously, with the travelling side making some basic errors on the ball.

These mistakes saw Carlisle awarded a short corner only two minutes into the game, which they converted with aplomb past South Lakes keeper Gayle Mawdsley, who has grown in confidence in her first season in goal. This early jolt settled the South Lakes team, who began to find their game and mounted wave upon wave of attack.

Strong support from Rebekah Nuttall, Lesley Davey and Cat Cooke at the back saw them feed the ball through to wingers Emma Armstrong and Rebecca Cook, who made a number of skilful runs down either flank.

Several times the ball came across to Gemma Jupp, who was unlucky not to score as the Carlisle keeper made a number of fine saves from close-range shots.

Finally, Pam Robertson put the travelling side level, with a strike from the top of the D which sailed into the goal.

Captain Holly Nuttall then put the away side ahead with a flick from the top of the D and Robertson then scored a brace within two minutes to claim her hat-trick and make the score 4-1 going into half-time.

Into the second half, Davey found herself on the scoresheet with a classic short corner strike two minutes after the re-start.

However, the Carlisle youngsters continued to fight and used their pace and skill to claim another short corner, which was finally converted following some scrappy play in the South Lakes D.

Natalie Knowles then took a beautiful reverse stick shot which found its way into the Carlisle goal, followed a minute later by another Davey short corner strike to make it 7-2.

Player-of-the-match Suze Armstrong and the ever-versatile Sarah Robinson linked well in midfield to create a chance for Armstrong to claim a place on the scoresheet.

Holly Nuttall scored her second – a carbon copy of the first – before Davey grabbed her third in a similar fashion to her first two.

Despite the scoreline the young Carlisle team never stopped fighting and showed real signs of improvement from the previous meeting this season.

The result gave South Lakes the Cumbria League title to add to the County Tournament trophy they claimed at the beginning of the season.

l Anyone interested in joining the South Lakes hockey squad or attending a casual summer training session before the full training starts in pre-season can go to www.southlakeshockeyclub. co.uk