QUACKERS overcame a slow start to be deservedly crowned women’s Channel Islands club champions for 2022.
Guernsey double-winners Panthers were excellent in the opening 15 minutes at Footes Lane, showing no nerves on such a big occasion for the club as they played their first ‘Upton’ in 14 years, and took the lead through captain Caryn Rieger-Vorster.
However, the visitors gradually got a foothold in the match and were level by half time before they stamped their authority on the game after the interval with three goals without reply.
Jersey’s men’s champions, Crusaders, were also in action at Footes Lane, but they were beaten 2-0 by fellow Upton debutants Yobbos.
Becky McAllister went close to opening the scoring in the third minute for Panthers but she swept her follow-up shot just wide of the post.
Just two minutes later, Panthers were ahead as they made the first short-corner of the game count with Rieger-Vorster’s strike finding the bottom corner.
Buoyed by that goal, the home side knocked the ball around well, but crucially they did not add to their lead and gradually Quackers settled.
The Jersey outfit forced a couple of short-corners before Hannah Eulenkamp made a save from Larissa Rankin as the pressure began to build on Panthers.
Eventually it told, as Eve Taylor-Cox’s precise strike from another short found its target.
The interval did not halt Quackers’ momentum and after the break Jamey Henderson became more influential in the middle of the pitch, making some powerful runs before giving her side the lead when she somehow sneaked the ball past Eulenkamp with a clever lifted finish.
Four minutes later, Quackers extended their lead through Rankin, who was on hand to tap in the rebound from close range after Eulenkamp made a fine reaction save from Natacha Kay’s short-corner strike which took a deflection.
Fiona Pereiras completed the scoring, again putting in the rebound after Panthers had managed to block the initial effort from a short-corner.
‘We started very slowly, we were a bit overawed by the occasion I think and went one down,’ said Quackers captain Emily Le Feuvre as she clutched the trophy after the game.
‘But we grew into it as the half went on, wasted a few chances to be honest, but Panthers are really strong in defence.’
She also had a word of praise for a tactical change made by coach Shelagh Herbert at half time.
‘We tweaked the formation a little bit, just to give us a little bit more protection across the midfield,’ said the captain.
‘I think we were getting overrun in there and we had a couple of players who have been carrying some injuries and illness so we were trying to protect them a little bit and I think that made a difference, so credit to our coach Shelagh. She saw what needed to happen and made those tweaks and that made a real difference in the second half.’
