An outstanding year: Campion add Braybrook Cup to first league title

Braybrook Cup winners: Campion College completed the league and cup double on Sunday when they beat Bohemians 4-0 in the Braybrook Cup final. They are, back, (from left): Adrianna Batarrita-Clark, Summer Ferris, Miah Somerton, Sarah Ruelens, Grace Levy, Tayla Broughton, Imogen Amor-Bendall, Dara Mulrooney, Kat Vanderbilt and Maia Ferguson. Front: Torepe Taumaunu-Kingi with Sonny, Maggie Preston, Breanna Ferris, Lucy Allan (captain), Sofia Zame, Bree Allan and Phil Allan (coach).

Campion College beat Bohemians 4-0 on Sunday to win the Braybrook Cup final and complete the double for Gisborne women's football.

Campion had clinched their first women's Eastern League title with a late goal in the last game of the competition, against Gisborne Laundry Services Wainui Riverina, on August 7.

Sunday's scoreline was not as close but the game had plenty of excitement and colour.

Bohos really looked the part with their orange hair-ties and face paint, and both teams had plenty of sideline support.

The game got off to the worst possible start for Bohos when, after two minutes, Campion captain Lucy Allan capitalised on confusion in the box and pounced on a loose ball to score from close range.

Bohos rallied. Midfielders Shahni Deere, Sommer Murrell and Sophie Deere were in the thick of the action and looked to put pressure on the Campion side at every opportunity.

Campion defenders Breanna Ferris, Bree Allan, Maggie Preston and Imogen Amor-Bendall, who have been outstanding as a unit all year, were finding they had no time to settle on the ball as they were constantly closed down by the hard-running Fern Jones, Rita Halley and striker Cassidy Beauchamp.

Campion goalkeeper Grace Levy was kept busy in the early stages of the match and made a couple of early saves.

As the pace of the game settled down on the big Childers Road Reserve No.1 pitch, Campion started to play the game at a tempo that suited them.

From a through ball in the 30th minute, Campion striker Tayla Broughton outpaced the Bohos defence and placed the ball into the far corner of the net.

When referee Geoff Griffin blew for halftime, Campion led 2-0. Griffin had a good game and allowed the game to flow.

Both teams came out for the second half full of running and it became apparent that Campion had decided to use the width of the pitch a lot more.

Campion central midfielders Lucy Allan and Torepe Taumaunu now played the ball wide much more often and wide players Sofia Zame and Dara Mulrooney were having more of a say in the match with their contrasting styles.

Strikers Miah Somerton and Tayla Broughton were now getting more touches on the ball in and around the Bohos goal box.

Bohos' back four of Jess Hughes, Jess Duncan, Teah Kahaki and Samantha Akroyd were kept busy and were doing a stellar job of protecting the goal. Kahaki was in the thick of everything and made many fine tackles and interceptions.

It took until the 70th minute for the next goal to come. Campion were hot on attack, the ball was cleared after hitting the post and from 25 metres Taumaunu struck a lovely shot that dropped under the bar, just out of the reach of keeper Morgan Andrews.

With Bohos camped in their own half, the fourth goal came in the 80th minute, when Lucy Allan played a give-and-go on the left side with Mulrooney, then crossed for Somerton to flick on to Sofia Zame to score with a great volley from the penalty spot.

It was good to see all the players from both teams get game time. Campion brought on keeper Kat Vanderbilt, young midfelder Summer Ferris, Sarah Ruelens and Maia Ferguson, who all played well.

Bohos brought on striker Libby Briant in both halves and it was good to see Tami Gooch, Demi Ingram and Angela Mathers get on the pitch in the final.

A delighted Campion coach Phil Allan was full of praise for his girls at fulltime, It's been an outstanding year for him and the students.