AFTER EIGHT months of wonderful football Watchet Town Vikings rounded off their campaign in style by winning 6-1 away to Wellington Wildcats to finish runners-up in the Under 12 South section of the Somerset Girls Football League.

Though first place was just out of reach, there was one trophy still to play for, albeit a personal one, with Ella Boyles neck and neck with Isla Tester (Weston Mendip) for the U12 Somerset Girls League golden boot.

Wellington started brightly and actually took an early lead. After this Amber and herthe defenders gathered everything up that came their way. The early setback was quickly nullified, with some wonderful early passing moves from Vikings. Notable moves involving Lois Jarman Prendergrast, Effie Ellwood and Ruby Anninginvolved some lovely passing triangles.

Ruby did brilliantly coming back in after a layoff through injury, playing roles in midfield and in defence. One time Lois beat about three players with upper-body strength and some skilled footwork to move into Wellington’s final third.

Macie Dixon and Lily Williams weren’t to be breached again and kept that door well and truly shut for the remainder of the half. Lily and Macie also communicated very well, helping each other with their positioning and covering for each other if any of the girls threatened.Fern Skinner and Flo Geary worked their socks off all afternoon on the flanks.

The first goal came from Ella who burst beyond her counterpart, following excellent linkup from all of her teammates. She struck the ball hard into the keeper’s far corner. She repeated this feat twice more in the first half for her hat-trick , interspersed with a couple of great saves by their keeper (Wellington’s eventual player of the match).

Effie was extremely unlucky not to notch her second goal of the season, who almost held the perfect line, following a great through ball and fired it to the keeper’s right - offside.  Flo Geary also found herself on the scoresheet, getting behind the lines on the left side of the pitch and finished with a chip over the keeper.

In the second half Sienna Webber, Laycie Jackson and Evie Cooper entered the fray. All three of them slotted in perfectly, Sienna leading the line at the top of the field, harrying and hassling their backline and Laycie really beginning to cause their fullbacks problems on the right flank, ever-running at them carrying the ball shoulder-to-shoulder.

But one moment in particular was excellent from Laycie as she battled to the byline, performed a roulette on the line to pull the ball back for a teammate in the box.. Evie, Lily and Ruby continued to clear up everything in the centre of the pitch.  As the game progressed Ella was able to find a fourth goal, this time with her left foot. Flo, Lois, Fern, Laycie chased down the ball when Wellington had stopped playing and managed to keep it in, surging forward and turning potential defence into a lethal transition.

No moment better summed this sentiment up then after an all-action performance, Ella pressed their outstanding goalkeeper just to the right of the box. Everyone in the ground thought the goalkeeper would calmly collect the ball in her hands.

Everyone except for Ella that was, as she accelerated up to her top speed, tackled the goalkeeper wide on the edge of her box and dribbled it back inside, chopping the ball just past the keeper with her left foot to seal an outstanding season for the captain and the whole team. Ella scored 31 league goals for the season - which is superb. Player of the match: Fern Skinner.