Canaccord Genuity Vikings A clinched their first PwC Mixed Premier League title in nearly three decades on Tuesday evening.

In a game that meant everything to Vikings but nothing to Ramsey, Vikings went into the match knowing that they needed to win by at least two goals to win the title for the first time since the 1988-89 season. Anything less would mean a seventh straight successive title for Bacchas A.

The previous meeting between the two sides earlier in the season ended 3-2 to Vikings and the squad knew they would have to perform against a Ramsey team that had secured third place in the league the weekend before.

Intermittent hail and rain showers didn’t put off the spectators who were in full voice. The match started as a cagey affair, with Vikings showing a little nervousness and Ramsey making some probing and testing counter-attacks.

While Vikings had the better of the early pressure in the opening 10 minutes, a short corner to Ramsey saw them break the deadlock with a straight strike into the bottom corner.

The goal seemed to have an affect on Vikings, prompting an immediate response and sustained period of possession from the team in black.

Vikings replied with a short corner of their own one minute after the Ramsey goal, which was dispatched into the top left of the goal by Tom Wilson.

Less than five minutes later, a second short corner opportunity was capitalised upon in the same manner, with Wilson converting another drag flick this time into the opposite corner.

With the pressure of expectation seemingly lifted from Vikings, they were able to settle into their rhythm. A tackle by Zoe Crowe followed by a long-range pass launched a Vikings counter attack, and Tim Henderson made the most of the space to pick out captain Kim Carney with a good cross, who slotted the ball home to give the blacks the crucial two-goal advantage they needed.

Following some good work by the Vikings midfield to break down a Ramsey counter-attack, Will Blake was able to take a quick sideline ball allowing him to use space and deliver a crunching pass into the Ramsey D.

There, Wilson was on hand to capitalise on a defensive lapse from Ramsey and complete his hat-trick, bringing him level as the leagues top goal-scorer.

One minute later and a fifth Vikings goal was added, with Dani Combes finding herself in the right place at the right time to benefit from another defensive mix-up from Ramsey, forcing the ball home from short range.

The goal was the fifth in a 20-minute period of play that put Vikings on the brink of the league title with a 5-1 scoreline at half-time.

Vikings were hoping that the second half would continue in the same vein, but a spirited and energetic Ramsey team had other ideas.

Vikings found themselves with less time and space as Ramsey pressed them high up the pitch, closing down the passing opportunities that Vikings had taken advantage of in the first half.

The Ramsey pressure eventually resulted in a short corner, which drew a good save from Sam Spooner, but the ball rebounded off a Vikings foot and the umpires determined the ball was goal-bound and awarded a penalty flick.

However, Spooner was more than equal to the test, making an important save to keep the game at 5-1.

A period of scrappy hockey followed, with neither team able to control the game for any period of play. Just when It looked like Vikings were starting to exert their dominance again with some better passing, the youthful Ramsey team produced their best move of the game and were rewarded with a second goal.

The Ramsey goal yet again spurred Vikings on and within two minutes Vikings had a short corner opportunity. While the set piece didn’t go to plan, John Verrall made the most of a rare chance to strike the ball from the top of the D, hitting the ball under the Ramsey goalkeeper.

With the scoreline at 6-2 and only minutes left to play, victory and the all-important two-goal margin were now securely in place.

Vikings were able to see the game out, sparking jubilant scenes from fans and players alike when the final whistle sounded as Vikings won their first top flight mixed league title in almost 30 years.

NEIL CROWE