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11/09/91
“WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS” - Eden Clinch Double
by Jeremy Ruane
The strains of “We Are The Champions” rang loud and clear as Gold Chick Poultry Farm Eden celebrated clinching the league and cup double in style, following a 4-0 triumph over Glenfield Rovers at Bill McKinlay Park on September 11.
A crowd of at least three hundred were treated to an enthralling duel, with Glenfield having the better of the early exchanges. An early Viv Robertson effort for Rovers forced a fine save from Michelle Townsley, and Eden survived numerous other scares in the first thirty minutes as Rovers continued to press.
Eden’s battling qualities came through in the 27th minute. Having weathered the storm, the “Gold Chicks” poured forth and tenacious work down the right from Beth Clark and Tarah Cox found SWANZ midfield ace Monique Van de Elzen roaming free. She cut inside from the right and fired home a sweet left-foot drive from twenty yards out which had Rovers’ Adele Webb beaten all ends up.
Ten minutes later, and Rovers were a beaten side. A Michele Cox free-kick to the far post was returned acrobatically by Helen Exler for the unmarked Van de Elzen to head home into the top corner.
The fire had gone from Rovers’ play, and Eden were quick to capitalise. Van de Elzen pressure on Rovers’ captain, Jill Corner, forced the ball to Karin Jensen, who drilled home through Webb’s legs, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside, which the linesman concerned, Alex Paterson, later admitted was an error on his part.
Unperturbed, Eden came straight back, and Jensen struck home a legitimate third in the 46th minute, after receiving a cushioned header from Michele Cox and shrugging off defenders.
The battle-weary “Gold Chicks” - five players needed attention to injuries in the first quarter of play - proceeded to cause havoc amongst their tiring opponents, with the Cox sisters, Jensen, Exler, Beth Clark and Van de Elzen all prominent in forward forays.
A final fourth goal came as no surprise, Exler showing bravery along the goal-line to evade the efforts of Anita Hall before whipping in a low cross to the near post for Clark to crack home the clincher.
Rovers came back late, Hall forcing another top save from Townsley. But the result, and the glory of the double, was Eden’s.
Referee John “Abbo” Harding compered well, while Debbie Pullen and Hall shone for Rovers. Eden’s was a sterling team effort, with the pick of the players being two-goal heroine Van de Elzen, tireless midfield toiler Michele Cox and the effervescent Exler.
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