TUESDAY'S Cotswold League final was full of skills . . . attack, defence, goalkeeping and refereeing of high quality were all on show.

Ilmington had worked their way through to their fourth final, yet have never won the trophy. Their B team, though, had already won the corresponding trophy for their group.

Blockley have been in serious training and are renowned for a very strong defence and the end result hinged on two pieces of extreme misfortune.

The game opened with strong attacks from Blockley, testing Jim Smith in the Ilmington goal and it took three minutes before the Warwickshire side could even register a shot on target.

A minute later, Matt Daniels passed across the face of the goal to find Ed Sandars waiting to pop it in at the post.

Sabrina Rew and Charlotte Styles were immensely strong at the back but Ilmington started to get more into the game halfway through the period.

Abbie Brooks saw a rasping shot well saved by Henry King who then had to respond sharply to a flurry of shots.

The pressure finally told when Charlie Winter started a long run from his own defence, using the right-hand wall as an extra player.

Unmarked He drew the keeper then passed to the unmarked Leon Begley who scored his first goal of the tournament.

Blockley replied with a series of tough shots, but Smith was alert to everything as the half ended all-square.

Ilmington opened the second half as they meant to go on and a series of shots were sent in for Smith to save with the shot count 48-14 in their favour.

King played superbly but something had to give and, when Scott Hardiman took a free hit close to goal, the wall stopped the shot but the ball it looped over their heads, bounced to one side of the goal and spun in.

King got a hand to it, but only after the ball had just crossed the line.

Five minutes later Dan Turner slammed the ball towards goal where King made a reflex stop only for the ball to bounce off him hit a defender's head and finish up in the goal.

Blockley now lost their shape at the back. Clearances were hurried, sending the ball to an opponent rather than one of their own forwards.

And, just seconds after their third goal, Ilmington scored again. Turner passed across to Jamie Williams, who struck it high into the net.

Begley hit a post soon after, then passed across to Winter, who finished the match off in fine style.

Great Britain Floorball past president, Mick Beasley, donated the trophy for the winners.

This season's competition has been the best yet and the entire play-off programme was completed without any of the walkovers that blighted last year's finals series.

All the schools are to be congratulated for enabling this to happen and the standard of play has improved noticeably, especially now that some of the teams are also playing in the Sunday League.