Horsham Sparrows are flying high as county champions

Sparrows made a bright start and took the lead on eight minutes when Bronwen Thomas drove through the heart of the Mile Oak defence to finish neatly in the bottom right-hand corner.

Mile Oak responded well to the early setback and put sustained pressure on the Sparrows goal.

Fliss Love took a powerful free-kick which was turned away by the impressive Maisie Starkey in the Mile Oak goal.

Love got her reward for an industrious first 35 minutes when she broke clear to finish powerfully and put Sparrows 2-0 up at half-time.

Mile Oak began the second half well and the Sparrows defence had to maintain their focus to prevent them getting back into the game.

Sarah Pepper, throughout the game mopping up any Mile Oak attack, continued to marshal her defence superbly through this spell and the match.

Sparrows then began to find their rhythm once more and, after a period of sustained pressure on the Mile Oak goal, Jordan Bundy headed home to make it 3-0.

Mile Oak continued to press for a goal but, caught by a team always looking dangerous in attack, 4-0 arrived when Daisy Fitton turned in.

Horsham Sparrows gave an excellent team display, epitomised by the courage of defender Grace Perkins to play despite the death of her father Phil earlier in the week. He was always a regular on the touchline at games and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

The thoughts and prayers of all connected with Sparrows are with the family at this difficult time.

Sparrows: Moore (GK), McMartin, Pepper, Perkins, Araniyasundaran, Thomas (c), Wheatley, Love, Fitton, Browning, Younger, Otley, Bunday