Page 31 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.34 2022-23

Helston Athletic Women have completed an historic double, winning the Cornwall Women’s
Football League Division One title to add to the League Cup, which they won last week beating
Foxhole Stars 4-1 in the Final.
In the most successful season in the club’s history, they also were unlucky runners-up in the
Cornwall FA Womens County Cup - a trophy they won in 2022. Their record for the season reads
Played 22, Won 20 including a 100% win record in the league.
For manager Paul Parfitt, this represents continued success with his three seasons at the club
bringing four trophies as follows:
2021 CWFL Champions, 2022 Cornwall FA County Cup Winners, 2023 Cornwall FA County Cup
Runners-Up, 2023 CWFL Champions, 2023 CWFL Cup Winners
Helston head the Division One title by a huge margin of thirteen points and they took on
runners-up Foxhole Stars in the League Cup Final at St Agnes. Helston started the game the
brighter of the two sides and with the pace of Katy Barker-Thomas causing problems alongside the
guile and vision of Georgia Lane, Liz O'Reilly and Abi Locke, it wasn't long before the Blues found
the back of the net only for it to be deemed offside. Barker-Thomas had the ball in the net a second
time but again the officials flag was raised. The Helston bench must have been thinking it was not
their day when a Liz O'Reilly penalty was well saved by Buzza in the Foxhole goal following a
handball.
Foxhole then rallied and their main outlet was the ball over the top, something that was
effective early on before and adjustment was made by the Helston defence; the Blues’ defensive unit
centred around the experienced Ellie Sparkes and Naomi Marable with club captain Chloe Demouy
in goal and the talented 17-year-old pairing of Jess Letcher and Lowenna Verry occupying the full
back positions. During a good ten minutes spell for Foxhole in the middle of the first half, some
sustained pressure led to a corner which looked to have been expertly headed clear by Verry only
for the goal to be given some 30 seconds after play had continued.
Helston remained calm and created chances and some of their passing football was a pleasure
to watch, on the stroke of half time some intricate passing and a great run from Georgia Lane and
Katy Barker saw a perfectly positioned Liz O'Reilly tap in from six yards to make it 1-1 at the break.
A slight tweak in positions at the start of the second half for Helston set them on their way with a 15
minute spell of dominance which saw Liz O'Reilly make it two before Georgia Lane's 20-yard shot,
following a great pass from Kim Yould, made it three and rounding off a devastating eight minute
spell, Abi Locke slotted home from an O'Reilly cross to make it 4-1 to Helston with 58 minutes gone.
Helston controlled the remainder of the game with Bridget Hannaford, Scarlett Clouter and
Molly Bray coming off the bench to bring fresh legs. As the full time whistle sounded, a jubilant
Helston team had completed the League and Cup double.

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