Corinthians clinched the Canada Life-sponsored Women’s Floodlit Cup after beating Peel 2-1 in the final at the Bowl on Sunday.

Both teams started the match well and it was Peel’s Sarah Wignall who had the first chance of the opening half as her initial shot was blocked by a Corinthians defender.

Wignall got to the rebound but could only watch on as her shot went wide of the upright.

With Ellie Gawne pulling the strings in midfield for the westerners, they began to put sustained pressure on their counterparts who struggled to get out of their own half at times.

With 15 minutes gone, Corinthians striker Casey Halsall broke through Peel’s backline to find herself with only the keeper to beat, but her effort was beaten away by the shot-stopper for a corner.

With the half drawing to a close and both teams trying to get the breakthrough, it was Halsall who broke the deadlock when the ball fell to her inside the area and she fired home a superb shot that was low and hard through a crowd of players, leaving the Peel keeper with no chance.

The first half finished with Peel looking to get a goal back before half-time, but a resolute Whites defence stopped them in their tracks.

The second half began with the westerners on the attack from kick-off and gaining a free-kick just outside the Whites area, but Gawne’s shot narrowly flew past the upright with the Corinthians keeper rooted to the spot.

Peel then created several chances and from a corner Becky Corkish’s shot was going in at the far post until Halsall cleared it off the line. The same player then had another shot from the edge of the area and was left frustrated when the outstretched boot of the keeper denied the westerners an equaliser.

Corinthians managed to mount a number of counter-attacks that came to nothing. Eventually, Peel’s pressure paid off when a short corner was taken to Wignall whose cross evaded everyone and found the top corner to level the scores at 1-1.

Despite the equaliser, it was Corinthians who went on to deliver the decisive blow.

The winning goal came after Chloe Teare won a free-kick close to Peel’s corner flag and her resulting set-piece into the area was met by player of the match Halsall who headed the ball into the net to give her side a 2-1 lead with only minutes left on the clock.

Peel again pushed for equaliser and very nearly found one when an effort appeared destined to find the back of the net until the Whites goalkeeper pulled off a great save to deny them.

It wasn’t long before the final whistle was blown as Corinthians held on to claim a 2-1 hard-fought win to clinch their ninth Floodlit Cup crown.