St Nicholas Claim Frank’s Cup...

This long season has concluded with the sixth cup final at Hitchin Town Football Club, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

The Frank Neville Memorial Cup was contested for on Thursday 17th May, two days before the third anniversary of the passing of Frank, our former General Secretary. The game passed off without incident and was a fitting end to the season. With Hartham Press beginning the match with a 2-0 handicap lead, they were up against it from the off, but Dan Curtin and Graeme Hulstrom were doing well at the back to keep them out. However, St Nicholas gradually turned the screw, with captain Carl Fletcher putting in an almost faultless display in the middle of the park with his clever footwork. The deficit was reduced when Grant Siggery netted after half-an-hour. However, the scores weren’t levelled until early in the second half when James Tyrer pounced. They were in front overall when Fletcher grabbed the goal he deserved when he side-footed home a cross from 12 yards. The fourth came by way of a clever back-heel from Dan Manning and the 5-2 score-line was completed by Neil Henderson’s 16th goal of the season. Frank’s daughter Elaine Wilson and granddaughter Gemma Barnaby handed out the medals and the cup.

On Sunday, two teams forfeited their last game. Almond Tree United failed to put a side out against runners-up FC Nirankari in the Premier Division, whilst TC Wanderers were short of players on the morning of their game in Division Three with Old Barclavians, where the latter also secured runners-up spot in the process on goal difference.