...and the surrounding midweeks

Young Broadhall Take Title, Lions’ Cup:

Last Wednesday saw two more winners confirmed, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

Division Three:
Broadhall 'A' clinched the title with an emphatic win over Stevenage Colts Reserves. After the disappointment of Monday night's cup final setback against Bedwell Rangers, the lads were determined to not let the season's main prize slip from their grasp.

Within the first minute, Jon Myers had the ball in the net, only for it to be disallowed for a surprising offside. They didn't have to wait long for the next chance and it came from a Rob Stevenson special which absolutely flew into the net from 30 yards. The lead was doubled inside the first twenty minutes as Gary Hillard powered in a header from a Phil Stevens free-kick. Instead of kicking on from this point, the game became fairly even. Colts hit the post early in the second-half to provide a bit of a wake up call. The game was finally won with under twenty to go as Hillard bundled in Glenn Durrant's excellent cross. Amid growing excitement on the touchline, the new champions finished in style, as first Hillard beat the offside trap to collect Terry Lee's pass and complete a well deserved hat-trick, and then Michael Carter put away number five with a lovely composed finish. Lots of celebration and spraying bubbly followed at the final whistle as they deservedly secured the championship.

Division Four Cup Final:
Over at Hitchin Town FC under the floodlights, our team from the Luton flight path were reliving former glories. It was going to be a tight game as these sides finished top two in the league, however, champions Crooked Billet Boro had failed to beat Breachwood Lions in two attempts in the League. Lions played a daring 3-5-2 formation for the first time this season. This worked well putting Billet on the back foot from kick-off. From a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area after 15 minutes, Dan Jefferies curled the ball into the bottom right corner of Richard Woodham’s goal. However, Billet got back into the game with several corners, one of which was knocked down on the six-yard box for Craig Snowden to level the scores. Ali Collins continued to taunt the Billet defence and a clearance reached captain Iaian Turkentine in midfield, he chested the ball down before unleashing a half-volley into the top corner moments before to restore Lions’ lead. Turkentine then won a midfield battle and placed a perfect early through-ball to Collins and with quick feet he swept the ball into the bottom corner of the net to finish the game. The match was nearly set up for a tense final ten minutes if not for a double save by stand-in ‘keeper George Harrison. Breachwood last won this cup at Stevenage Borough FC in 2003.

Sunday saw the final league games played.

Division Three:
After clinching the title on Wednesday night, Broadhall ‘A’ were intent on finishing their league season well against one of their main rivals. They started well and the returning Michael Emmings put them ahead after only six minutes, chasing down and finishing keeper Will Harris' long clearance. Emmings was involved in the second goal after 14 minutes, as Bedwell Rangers ‘keeper Alex Willcocks parried his shot, but could not stop Jon Myers tucking away the rebound. The rest of the half was mainly the story of how many great chances Broadhall were guilty of wasting, especially Emmings. The second-half saw a marked improvement from Bedwell and there was a five minute spell where Harris pulled off three stunning saves to keep the score at two-nil. Eventually, a goal was pulled back from the spot from Luke Smith, who had been fouled. Just as they threatened to get something from the game, Emmings chased down a lost cause and sent over a great cross for Andy Lee to head number three with just over ten minutes to go. The game was finally wrapped up late on as Jordan Tyrrell controlled Matt Dimond's diagonal pass to finish well. The end of a great league season which has seen them win 14 of their 18 league games and finish a clear six points ahead of runners-up Odyssey, scoring 72 league goals and only conceding 23.

Thomas Rydeheard (two) and Alexander Perry were on target as Rileys Athletic beat ABC Taxis.

The only double-header of the league season saw Times Club hammer Stevenage Colts Reserves in the first of the one-hour matches thanks to Richard Griffiths (two), Jack Payne and Max Robinson. Part two saw them net four again through Karl Rickaby (two), Griffiths and an own goal, but Colts came up just short after strikes from Ryan Bareham, Carl Green and Josh Watson.

This Thursday (19 May) sees the showpiece of the season, the KLM Challenge Cup Final, take place at the County Ground in Letchworth as Nirankari Stevenage face Dun Cow.

The final game of the season is next Wednesday (25 May) as Crooked Billet Boro face Broadhall 'A' in the Frank Neville Memorial Cup Final, also at Letchworth.

The league website can be found at www.cssfl.info.