The final day of the season always brings with it trepidation and excitement, and this year’s final games certainly provided entertainment!

As our first ever Women’s 11-a-side team headed to York City’s brand new LNER Community Stadium to take part in the CEFA National Cup Final, another of our male teams lined up at the University of Derby to see if they could clinch the title in the last game of the season.

With the first kick off at York at 11.30am, the girls’ side prepared themselves to take on Peterborough, after advancing to the final on penalties against a strong West Brom side.

The female game started off with pressure from the Posh side, but this was quickly dealt with and the Rams were controlling the play. An unfortunate counter-attack from the opposing side saw them capitalise on a short spell of possession and score against the run of play.

The Derby side weren’t deterred by the deficit and continued to dominate play, which was immediately rewarded as a smart link up saw us clear on goal and the score was swiftly brought back to level terms with about five minutes of the first half to play.

The second half continued in the same way as the first with Derby controlling the vast majority of play. The girls recorded several shots on goals but failed to find the back of the net, thanks to a worthy performance by the Post goalkeeper, who justly went on to be named Player of the Match for her team.

As the final whistle was blown, the competition was heading to penalties and the girls readied themselves for their second set of penalties in two games.

The shootout started on the backfoot as Peterborough slotted their first shot home but the Derby team failed to reciprocate, with their keeper making an excellent save. The Posh girls went on to score their second too, and Derby recorded their first mark on the board.

Then, the tables turned and a low dive from our keeper kept Peterborough’s third effort out, and the Rams’ side brought the tally back to 2-2 after three penalties from each side. Peterborough’s fourth shot skimmed the bar and went over, and Derby responded by coolly scoring, edging in front for the first time.

The final Peterborough penalty again just fizzed over the crossbar and the Derby girls were victorious!

Player of the match for the Rams went to our goalkeeper, who was playing her last game in Derby colours before heading to America this summer on a four-year football scholarship.

Back at home, one of our boys’ sides secured their second successive league title after a convincing 4-0 win against Shrewsbury Town on a muggy afternoon at Derby University.  

Early in the contest, the Shrewsbury no.17 gave the ball away to the Derby no.10 who blazed his shot over the bar.  

The Derby no.4 opened the scoring with a goal worthy of winning any title, a brilliant long-range effort into the top corner. 

The Derby no.10 came close to doubling the lead after he received the ball on the edge of the box and dragged his volley wide. 

On the hour mark, the Derby no.11 emphatically smashed home a half volley into the roof of the net from close range. 

Around five minutes later, the Derby no.10 made a surging run into the box but fired his effort over the bar.  

The Derby no.10 did get his goal moments after his previous chance when he swept the ball home into the bottom corner.  

Mike Noon, Football and Education Lead at the Trust, said:

“The day’s successes showcased the progress within our Football and Education programme, with our first ever 11-a-side women’s team triumphing in a national cup and recording back-to-back league wins with one of our male teams is a huge testament to the dedication from students and staff.

“The course provides a unique opportunity to combine studies with sport and it’s a formula which hugely appeals. As we work with four different education venues we aren’t bound geographically and will have as many as ten teams representing the Rams from September.”