Two stunning performances from Chelmsford Highway clinched the National Indoor title for the club for the first time in their history.

In a nailbiting finale on Sunday they pipped last year's champions Slough to the top spot on goal difference, at the end of an intense weekend which involved playing five games in two days.

The victory celebrations seemed a million miles away after defeat to arch rivals Ipswich on Saturday.

The day had begun so promisingly with a convincing win over newly promoted Canterbury.

The 7-3 scoreline proved to be the heaviest defeat that the newcomers to the Premier Division suffered and the four goal difference also proved to be crucial come the final outcome.

Ipswich were up next and both teams were well aware of the importance of the game.

Ipswich quickly went 2-0 up and Chelmsford looked a little shellshocked.

Despite Chelmsford pulling a goal back, Ipswich made the most of their chances to open up a 4-1 lead.

Jo Thompson then made a string of excellent saves to keep the Suffolk side on top.

Chelmsford kept plugging away and got to within a single goal, but in their efforts to push forward for the equaliser they left gaps at the back and were punished, finally going down by 6-3.

The Essex side were down but not out.

Knowing that goal difference may yet play its part Chelmsford called upon all their reserves to rattle in 10 goals against Bracknell with no reply in their final game of the day.

Saturday's results meant that victory over Slough on Sunday morning was imperative for Chelmsford in order to keep their title hopes alive.

When they went a goal down in the opening minute a positive result looked unlikely.

With chances coming in quick succession without any success Chelmsford also had to remain patient and they eventually got their just reward.

Sarah Embury, playing her first season with Chelmsford, equalised and Lisa Wooding put them ahead at half time.

Lynn Bollington added a third goal in the second half before captain Julie Parrott made the game safe.

Late goals from Tracy Wilmore and another from Wooding gave the Essex side a deserved 6-1 win.

It put them in a strong position on goal difference now that they were level on points with Ipswich and Slough with all three sides left with one game to play.

Chelmsford were first up with a tricky game against an improving Hightown side.

The northerners frustrated their southern opponents and with only five minutes remaining, Chelmsford only had a 3-1 advantage.

A late push led to a flurry of goals with Embury, Wooding and Bollington all contributing to a final scoreline of 8-1.

With their job done Chelmsford could only sit and watch in the hope that their nearest rivals Ipswich and Slough could not achieve the targets they had been set.

Ipswich needed to beat Canterbury by 10 clear goals, but not only did they fail to do this, but they failed to win the game, surprisingly going down 6-3 to Canterbury.

Slough's target against bottom placed Bracknell was to win by 20 goals. It proved to be an impossible task although they did win 13-2.

The result left Chelmsford in top spot and the celebrations began.

Over the course of the weekend Chelmsford scored 34 goals, the most scored by any team, and let in only 11, the fewest conceded by any team.

These figures, combined with the fact that six of their players scored four or more goals (the only team to achieve this) is proof that it really was a tremendous team effort.

Captain Julie Parrott was absolutely delighted "This is a culmination of not just this season but years of hard work," she said.

Parrott, a veteran campaigner who has been close on many occasions, without winning it before, added: "we have been runners-up so many times this is a sweet moment to finally win it. It's all very exciting."

This win means that Chelmsford will be England's representatives in next season's European Club Championships.

Two of Chelmsford's successful indoor league winning team will be hoping for European success sooner rather than later when they travel to Vienna with England for the European Indoor Hockey Nations Cup.

Katie Roberts and Lisa Wooding will be in Austria from January 27-30 and will be hoping to improve on the silver medal that England won in Spain two years ago.

Roberts is looking forward to the challenge, saying: "It would be marvellous to follow up the club success with another gold medal in Vienna with England.

''The Germans will probably be our toughest test but we are confident we can do well."

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