Spartans B were the 2011 Keele Cup victors after two days of epic play where hardship turned into friendship to unveil a great team spirit that none of the players will ever forget.

After the long journey down to Keele, near Stoke in England, Spartans B were on a war footing on Saturday with three 40-minute games aligned for them. The City of Manchester Ladies were awaiting and quickly set sail 2-0. In spite of the absence of regular striker Anne Smollet, Spartans B rallied and got one back through Lisa Meiklejohn in the dying minutes of the first half to keep their hopes alive. And at the end of a commendable second half, the Edinburgh outfit equalised through Noreen Pinkman, as composed as ever, to get their first point in the tournament.

In the second battle against Liverpool Feds Reserves, however, Spartans B were unable to show the same form. The Liverpudlians proved too strong and won 3-1 in spite of Heather Laing scoring from the penalty point to make it 2-1 after Maggie Donald was taken down in the penalty area.

With Group 1 second place looming with a win in the third game, Spartans B took the game against Middleton Athletic Ladies into their hand. Laura McRitchie scored a magnificent goal after a fantastic run on the left wing to open the score. However, Spartans B couldn’t hold and conceded another draw (1-1) after also missing a penalty. Now bottom of their group, they entered the Plate tournament on Sunday.

After trying a 3-4-3 formation for a couple of games during the first half of the regular season with mixed result – a defeat vs. East Fife and a last-gasp win over Spartans C – Spartans B totally embraced their new tactics in Keele on Sunday. With three at the back and some heroic defending, the Scots were revived. They fought for a 2-1 win against St Nicholas Ladies thanks to goals by Donald and Meiklejohn. And they eased into the final with a 3-0 win against Claygate Royals with strikes by Pinkman (2) and Meiklejohn.

The final would never be easy. Their opponents – Stockport County Ladies B – who had been given a bye to the final after other teams dropped out of the tournament, had plenty of time to rest before the much-awaited decisive clash. They logically took the lead with a strong header from a corner. But the Scots were determined not to come back empty-handed after their 500 miles expedition.

Also from a corner, Laing allowed the Sparta warriors to go all the way to penalty shoot-out. Spartans B, who were going first, missed their first penalty but were relieved to see their counterparts put the next one wide. Every player then scored and on the fifth and decisive penalty, Helen Lyon – striker-turned-goalkeeper for the benefit of the tournament and SWF 2nd Division East Player of the Month in June – pushed the ball away with her foot to win it for Spartans B.

Defender Jen Robertson and striker Donald were named team’s player of the day on Saturday and Sunday respectively, while Pinkman and Meiklejohn finished team’s joint top scorers with three. And Spartans B went back to Scotland with the first silverware in their history.

Team

Goalkeeper: Helen Lyon

Defenders: Michelle MaGee (c), Jen Robertson, Laura Fallen, Emma Hingant

Midfielders: Lisa Meiklejohn, Louise Humphrey, Heather Laing, Heather Smart, Emma Curson

Forwards: Maggie Donald, Noreen Pinkman, Laura McRitchie, Laura Thomson

Coaches: Lisa Millar, Gordon Lyon (Head coach: Michael De Angelis)

Results

Saturday

Spartans B 2-2 City of Manchester Ladies

Liverpool Feds Reserves 3-1 Spartans B

Spartans B 1-1 Middleton Athletic Ladies

Sunday

Spartans B 2-1 St Nicholas Ladies

Claygate Royals 0-3 Spartans B

Final

Spartans B 1-1 Stockport County Ladies B (Spartans win 4-3 on penalties)

Spartans B scorers

Noreen Pinkman, Lisa Meiklejohn (3)

Heather Laing (2)

Maggie Donald (1)

Laura McRitchie (1)

The players would like to give a massive thank you to our coaches Lisa Millar and Gordon Lyon, who had to endure our planking, singing and dancing for too long, and also to Michael De Angelis who followed our results from Edinburgh throughout the weekend. Thank you also to Sam Ramsay and Scottish team Dee Vale who supported us. Special thanks to Heather Laing who made it possible by organising it so efficiently