Sunday 24th April ko 16.00

Thames Valley Counties Women’s League Cup Final

BENSON LIONESSES 0

OXFORD CITY NOMADS 3 (Frackiewicz 22 51 62)

Att c200 at Milton United FC

Entry £1

Programme £1

On one level I was at this one purely down to Jon Radcliffe and the Benson Lions. It you aren’t aware of him and them, they represent the absolute pinnacle of my time as a groundhop organiser. Benson Lions are the RAF side based on the base, and if you were at either of the games they hosted, you’ll know why I hold Jon and the club in such high regard.

Other than being club chairman Jon is also manager of the women’s team, and just like those hop games he’s had no little success, they’ve won Division 2 North this season, only losing one game along the way.

But Jon was nervous about this one, Oxford City Nomads play in Division 1 so would this be a bridge too far for his team. And to be honest yes it was, Mandy Frackiewicz will take all the plaudits for her hat trick but City were better everywhere it mattered.

The Lionesses looked a little deflated at the end, but were classy enough to applaud their opponents, knowing their time would come. And come it did, as the league did something other leagues should consider doing. They used the big crowd and gave out the divisional trophies too, surely that’s better for the clubs than the comparatively sterile atmosphere of the AGM?

But despite the loss the final word was left to the Lionesses who celebrated on the pitch and Jon was liberally soaked in champagne. Such things are customary!!