RAF ladies retain Inter Services crown after Pip Wilson hat-trick

The Royal Air Force have won the Women's Inter Services Football Championships after a 4-1 win against the Army at Leek Town FC. 

With a hat-trick by Pip Wilson and another goal from Lucy Farrow, the RAF fended off an early Army challenge with the Army's Anna Birtwhistle scoring the first goal in the opening first half. 

Following the RAF's 0-3 win against the Navy two weeks ago, the RAF's 4-1 win against the Army means they retain the title they won last year.

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The Army showed their sheer determination to make up the four-goal deficit they need to win the title, a tall order against a well-trained RAF side, but the reds began to frustrate the light blues in the opening stages. 

The Army's push for a first goal paid off as Anna Birtwhistle struck through the legs of the RAF keeper to give the Army a 0-1 lead. 

The early Army goal was a wake-up call for the light blues and the RAF began to pick up the pace to try to level the scoreboard with the Army. 

It was Pip Wilson who would do just that, catching the Army napping to breeze to her first goal of the match to level with the Army 1-1. 

That was soon followed by another RAF goal, with Pip Wilson in position to assist Lucy Farrow in the goal box who ricocheted the ball into the net to give the RAF a 2-1 lead before half-time. 

The RAF came back in the second half with a spring in their step, and it was Pip Wilson who once again scored for the light blues with team captain Cat Beaver taking a corner kick, paving the way for Wilson to double down on her score sheet to put the RAF up a further 3-1. 

The Army tried to come back, with several attempts to eat away at the RAF's 3-1 lead not coming to fruition on this occasion. 

With minutes to go before the final whistle, Pip Wilson scored her third goal of the match to complete her hat-trick to put the RAF up 4-1. 

The RAF retain their Inter Services title as the final whistle blew, winning convincingly over the Army who were not able to overcome the sheer strength and depth of the RAF team.

The RAF women's victory comes as their male counterparts prepare to play the Army in Shrewsbury as they attempt to also retain their Inter Services title.