Five-star Bulldogs take Cirencester tournament (From Gazette Series)

Five-star Bulldogs take Cirencester tournament

CAM BULLDOGS LADIES fulfilled their potential at the small-sided game and deservedly won the Gloucestershire County Women's League Five-a-side Tournament at the Cirencester Arena.

After finishing runners up to Gloucester City in both the Dursley and Yate Summer Six-a-side competitions, Cam finally went one better on Sunday.

The Bulldogs sent two teams to Cirencester, with the winning side being made up of the players who competed in the Bentham Five-a-side League - where they were up against all male teams - over the summer.

Cam qualified second from their group and then won a quarter-final and semi-final before beating Downend - the only team to beat them at the group stage - in the final.

Winning captain Kirsty Swan said: "The whole team, including the girls who played in the other side here, are really chuffed about winning the first silverware of 2006.

"To only concede two goals throughout the seven games was also extremely pleasing and a measure of how much improved the girls are from our summer of playing five-a-side at Bentham."

The other Cam side, Cam Bulldogs A, had a less successful time in the ten-minute matches.

With little five-a-side experience, Cam A failed to score a goal and came bottom of Group C.

However, they were unlucky to lose to Ross Town Reserves B in their opening game with numerous shots from Katie Everett and Reanne Vines pinging straight into the goalkeeper's arms.

Downend Flyers B goalkeeper Laura Cornford then produced an equally inspired display to frustrate the Bulldogs and Annie Culley in particular in a 2-0 defeat.

Cam A also lost against Longlevens Greyhounds and Gloucester City Reserves A but were grateful for the excellent, if unconventional, goalkeeping of Lisa Solomon.

Gloucester A and Longlevens progressed from Group C.

In Group B, Dursley Town also finished bottom but gave a decent account of themselves overall.

Sally Ash and Emma Leahey grabbed a goal each in a 3-2 defeat to Cheltenham Town Reserves before Ash was again on target in a 2-1 reverse against Oldland Abbotonians B.

Leahey hit her second goal of the tournament as Town went down 2-1 against Newent Town, while they lost their final game 2-0 against Yate Town A with Ash taking on the goalkeeping responsibilities to allow Jodie Turl a run out.

Yate A won the group with Oldland B finishing second.

Stoke Lane won Group D with Bristol and West next best.

Cam B began their Group A campaign with a 3-0 win over Ross Town Reserves A, Michelle Purse scoring twice and Lucy Bennett once.

The Bulldogs then lost 1-0 to Downend A but bounced back against Blakeney with a 2-0 win, both goals coming from Purse.

Just needing to draw their final group match to go through, Cam B thumped Gloucester B 3-0 with Purse once again hitting two and Bennett completing the scoring for her side.

The Bulldogs then repeated the trick against Gloucester A in the quarter-finals, Purse this time bagging a hat-trick in another 3-0 win against a City side.

Elsewhere in the quarters, Yate A beat Bristol and West 2-0, while Downend A and Stoke Lane needed penalties to see off Longlevens and Oldland B respectively.

Downend A then drew 0-0 with Yate A in the semi-finals before taking a 7-6 win on penalties.

Cam B beat Stoke Lane 2-1 in their semi-final with a superbly struck double from Purse, although they were indebted to goalkeeper Lina Elliott for several fine saves.

The final was a tense affair with Downend A seemingly happy to play for penalties.

However, early in the second half, Bennett put her own rebound in after Downend goalkeeper Zoe Hodgson had stopped her first effort and Cam B won the final 1-0.

The winning squad consisted of Lina Elliott, Kirsty Swan, Michelle Stokes, Lucy Bennett, Michelle Purse, Beck Millard and Sharon Griffin, with Lorne Ball the successful manager.