Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
The 10th season of the Gulf Weekly Ladies League was completed in style this week, with the final two matches taking place. While the Arsenal Ladies had already wrapped up top spot, second place was still up for grabs between Venus and the Arsenal U21s.
The U21s did all they could, with an outstanding display against the champions, and got off to a great start within four minutes with a goal from Aya Ashraf, and a second two minutes later from Lamis McDowell-Rose.
The younger team continued to push forward to secure the result that they needed, and the Ladies, although not at full strength, could not cope with their energy and pace.
When Lamis scored again to complete a memorable first season for the U21s and for herself personally, the task looked impossible for the Ladies, despite reducing the defecit with a goal just before the break, because with a minute to go Phoebe License popped up with a goal of her own to maintain a three-goal cushion.
The second half was a different affair, with the Champions finally finding some form, and when Reema Al Qassab scored early on, they believed that they could still get back into the game.
The U21s, however, shut up shop and ran out worthy 4-2 winners and ensured the Arsenal Ladies failed to copy what the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ achieved in the English Premiership in 2003-4 and go through a season unbeaten.
The U21s victory meant that Venus had to beat Seef Dental to finish in the runners-up spot, and an early goal by Hana al Sharif calmed their nerves.
Seef were without some key players and when influential defender Hanne Hansen was forced to leave the game early through injury, Venus took advantage and pushed forward for more goals. Seef have proven difficult to beat all season though, and Venus were unable to score again in the first half.
But, in the second half, Tala Al Bashimi struck again and when Fatima Mahmoud burst down the right flank and put over the perfect cross, Hannah Busheri was on the end of it with a great finish for her first ever goal in the league.
Venus ensured they took second place with a convincing 3-0 win.
Final standings: 1 Arsenal Ladies 21 points; 2 Venus 15 (+ 9 goals); 3 Arsenal 21’s 15 (+ 2 goals); 4 Seef Dental 4; 5 RCSI 4.
The presentations will take place this evening when the GulfWeekly League winners and runners-up, and Player of the Season trophies and medals will be awarded following a match between the champions and a team selected from all of the other sides as the league’s ‘Team of the Season’.
“The league’s administrators, coaches and players and everybody-else involved would like to thank GulfWeekly, as always, for its fantastic support,” league coordinator Deena Rahman added.
* Report and photographs from the presentation evening will be featured in next week’s issue.
