STAFFORDSHIRE Scorpions finished third in the Manchester Metropolitan competition, narrowly missing out on second place by just four goals.
The team dressed up as cowboys for the event and could have been top was it not for a last minute goal in their game against Leeds Met.
The day started brightly under blue skies with a convincing 5-1 win over the hosts MMU. A goal each for Carly Edwards, Dimitri Chambers, Stephen Jinks, James Perkins and Marcus Howe gave Staffs a confident start to the tournament.
Things were not so good in their next game as the Scorpions came up against the Sailors of Leeds. Graced with men’s specialists the Leeds attack was too fast for the Staffs defence and ran in six goals. Consolation efforts for Edwards and Chambers was as good as it good as the Cowboys went down 6-2.
That proved to be the Scorpions only defeat as in the next game they came through a close encounter against second placed York.
The game finished 4-3 with goals from Edwards, Perkins, Owen and Chambers ensuring Staffs were always in front throughout the game.
The low point of the day was the controversial game against Leeds Met which eventually ended up a 3-3 draw.
The Scorpions were leading until the last minute but the game will be remembered for the attitude of Leeds Met. Match Officials were often ignored as the Yorkshire team showed a disrespect for the rules. Tempers started to boil over and Staffs let their concentration drop to concede that last minute goal.
Staffordshire benefited from an hour break before their last two games and regained their composure as they fired in nine goals in their last two games. The Cowboys were 5-0 winners over Leicester University before beating Aberystwyth 4-2 in the last match of the day.