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Phoenix Women win playoffs

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Manchester Phoenix Women rounded off the season in spectacular style with victory over Swindon in the national end-of-season play-offs.

Sunday’s 3-2 success at Ice Sheffield delivered the club's second major trophy of the year, following their Northern Divison One title win.

Manchester’s play-off victory caps a remarkable season for the Oakfield Road outfit, who played their first game just under two years ago.

Phoenix captain, Charlene Chapman, was delighted with her side’s triumph against a tough Swindon line-up.

She said: “Winning the league was a big achievement for the girls, but this is just incredible. Every single player showed a massive amount of heart and passion to beat Swindon.

“We expected to do well in this tournament, although nobody expected us to get this far. The southern teams are extremely tough, and our opponents probably started the weekend as favourites.

“That is why winning the play-offs, after taking the league title, marks this team out as being truly special.”

The opening stages of Sunday’s encounter saw Manchester score first through Chapman, before Swindon took the lead with two unanswered goals.

Hill’s second of the game gave her side equal footing ahead of the closing moments, before Leen De Decker snatched victory with three minutes remaining.

The Phoenix skipper added: “Leen’s goal to win the game was a real beauty. To receive a pass on the breakaway, and convert it, took nerves of steel. She truly deserved her man of the match award.

“It is hard to put into words how proud I am of these players this weekend, and over the season as a whole. Even at the death, when we were 3-2 up, we had to end the game shorthanded. That showed real heart.”