Cambs FA Women's League Cup Final -Cardea Ladies v Histon Ladies

The Premier Plus stadium was a fitting setting for this final In what was to be the third time this season, we would face a strong and skilful Histon team.
After extremely wet weather for a few days it was touch and go if this eagerly awaited League Cup final would even go ahead and we all waited with anticipation until the final decision was made, before making the journey to a very wet St Neots.
With the two previous games ending in a draw, then a win for Cardea and with both teams already locked in battle for the league title, there was still no room for complacency as this was always going to be a tough game for the Cardea squad.
With a good number of supporters for both sides in the stands to make a great atmosphere, it would be Histon who would take the kick off to commence this battle for the trophy.
It was a great start for Cardea, winning the ball quickly and sending it up field to win the first throw of the game. A good long throw from Courtney found Pollard, who flicked on to give Georgie the first shooting opportunity of the game, which unfortunately was sent wide of the target for a goal kick.
We knew how quick Histon were from our previous meetings and from the kick they hit Cardea with a good attack of their own, which brought Poppy into the action early as she came out and saved at the striker’s feet.
Only moments later and it would again be Poppy to the rescue, as she came off her line to collect a good cross into the Cardea box following another quick Histon attack.
Both teams had started at a lively paceand both seemed keen to attack each other, but it was Histon who were having most of the possession and most of the early chances.
On 12 minutes, some good goal keeping from Poppy s]aw her first punch clear a good Histon corner, before she was called on again to tip the rebound shot just over her crossbar.
Each time Cardea tried to move up field they would struggle to find a way through the wall of red shirts, as Histon defended in numbers.
On 21 minutes, another good Histon corner caused some confusion and Cardea struggled to clear the ball and the resulting shot was again saved by Poppy.
As Histon continued to apply the pressure, Pollard found herself a lone striker and whenever she did receive the ball there was little in the way of support for her.
On 29 minutes Cardea survived a quick attack, with the Histon striker just being pushed out slightly wide under the pressure of Sof, forcing her to shoot just past far post.
Only 2 minutes later and the Cardea defence had to scramble away a good Histon free kick into the box.
The 33rd minute saw a good chance for Cardea when, from another quick throw over the Histon defence, Pollards shot forced a good save by the Histon keeper’s feet.
It was Histon though who continued applying the pressure with fast attacks down their wings, which needed Cardea to defend with every player behind the ball.
On 37 minutes, from a good cross the Histon forward shot just wide.
On 39 minutes, another well delivered Histon free kick into the Cardea box saw the forward turn and thankfully shoot just wide of the target.
It was a frustrated looking Histon and a concerned looking Cardea who left the pitch on half time with the score still level at 0-0.
The first half had been a struggle for us, with Histon forcing much of the play and the Cardea side struggling to retain possession or put any real pressure on the Histon goal. The second 45 minutes however would be a different story.
Now, I`m not sure where Ruddy buys her half time oranges from, but we have seen before how a struggling Cardea team can benefit from a good intake of Vitamin C and this was to be another one of those days.
It was almost like watching a different Cardea team take to the pitch and from the whistle we saw a new passion to win the ball from every player, that had certainly been lacking in the first half.
Almost immediately we saw Cardea attacking the Histon goal with a Pollard shot being tipped around the post with a good save.
From the corner we saw another Cardea shot from Leah well saved and as we attacked from the loose ball, the Histon keeper would again deny us the opener with another leg save.
It was a more determined Cardea, who were now playing how we know they can, with quality passing, hard tackling, good movement and what seemed to be a new lease of life. Our wingers in Olivia and Brooke were now playing much higher and causing the Histon defence problems down both sides of the pitch.
On 52 minutes a good throw from Cardea saw Pollard turn her marker, but her shot was denied by the cross bar.
Only a minute later we saw Georgie hit a good free kick that was put out for a corner and moments later a shot from Ruddy again forced a good save.
Unlike the first half, whenever Histon tried to hit us with a quick counterattack, they came up against quality defending from Sof,Laura, Mia and Fiona who absorbed the pressure and cleared easily to start fresh Cardea attacks.
Cardea were now seeing a lot more of the ball and we were spending more time in the Histon half. where it was their turn to look uncomfortable as they struggled to clear their area.
It would be on 63 minutes where we would see the deadlock broken by some great play from Cardea.
A good delivery from a Histon corner was headed clear by Sof and it was Olivia who was quickest to react, pouncing on the loose ball on the edge of the Cardea area.
After beating a Histon player, the winger took a quick look before sending a long accurate ball up field and well into the Histon half to where Pollard was waiting to receive.
In football you have to take your chances when they come and sometimes a little bit of luck can make all the difference.
With the Histon defender not judging the bounce of the ball, this was to be that moment of luck we had waited for. The bounce beat the defender which allowed Pollard the few feet of space she had been waiting for.
The quick striker who has been prolific all season, found herself alone and towards goal with two Histon defenders doing their best to make up ground and just the keeper to beat.
As the Cardea striker closed in on the Histon keeper the supporters in the stands started to rise to their feet, the noise level increased as every Cardea supporter could be heard willing her on.
As ever the finish was calm and precise, beating the Histon keeper and sending a low shot into the Histon goal, to break the deadlock and give us a valuable lead, 1-0.
As the cheers still echoed around the stadium, the game entered the final phase at an increased intensity. Histon had awoken and were looking for the equaliser, but Cardea were also hungry to kill the game off with a second goal.
A quick Histon attack from the restart saw a good cross headed just wide of the Cardea goal.
On 69 minutes Cardea had two corners with the second headed just over the bar by a good Sof header.
The 71-minute mark saw another Histon shot saved on the line by Poppy`s legs from a well delivered free kick.
From the quick Cardea counterattack we saw Pollard shoot just too high.
The action was end to end and was being played at such a high pace between two well matched teams, but it would be Cardea who would strike again on 78 minutes with another moment of magic.
Mof had only just entered the playing area as a substitute when she received the ball after a quick Cardea throw. With fresh legs her first touch brought the ball down, her second beat her defender before only her third touch of the game saw her send a beautiful chip over the Histon keeper and into the net.
To say the Cardea fans raised the roof would be an understatement,, as the loud celebrations in the stands were matched only by the ecstatic celebrations amongst the Cardea team on the pitch. It was a pure magical `super-sub` moment and took us to 2-0 with only 12 minutes left to play.
Any other team would have already been defeated, but not this tough, determined Histon squad; who continued to attack with speed and aggression, still looking to get back into the match with a late push for goals.
It created a great last few minutes of what had been an excellent final so far.
On 81 minutes some great work by Sof and Laura in the Cardea defence cleared two good Histon crosses.
On 84 minutes we saw Poppy again save with her legs as a ferocious shot was sent towards our goal.
A Histon free kick on 87 minutes saw Poppy punch clear before Titch would block another Histon shot on goal.
The Cardea goalie would make another late low save as the game entered the final moments to deny a frustrated Histon attack.
After a final 2 minutes of added time the dream of a cup double had become a reality with the final whistle starting celebrations, which saw players and supporters coming together as one united Cardea FC.
It really had been an exceptional second half display by every Cardea player and again they had given everything they had to bring the trophy home and truly deserved to be crowned League cup champions.
Congratulations to Pollard who was awarded the officials player of the match and to Poppy who was unanimously voted player of the match by the coaches and supporters.
All credit to Histon who had also played some exceptional football and who helped to make this a great cup final.
But for the second time this season, it was our time to celebrate as the trophy was lifted, the champagne flowed, and the players belted out their own unique version of `we are the champions,’ (if I`m honest it wasn’t the best version I have ever heard).
Cardea ladies were no longer just cup winners; we were now ‘DOUBLE CUP WINNERS’..