Today was all about celebrating and 1,027 turned up at the New Windmill Ground to see Leamington 'lift' the Southern Premier League championship trophy. 'Lift' was the operative word given the weight of this impressive item which has the names of the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Ipswich Town engraved on it. As for the Holleran 'death mask', that can be re-used at Halloween.
It wasn't a classic match, as the minds of the Leamington players increasingly seemed to switch off as the final whistle approached. In the first half, St.Albans pressed hard down the slope in the opening half hour or so. Given the swirling wind, and even a hailstorm, it was difficult to play good football despite the excellent condition of the pitch.
Brakes had a chance to go ahead when an open goal was presented to them and I thought that the angled shot from Dodd was going to go in, but it just missed. Then Dodd put in a great cross, but the ball ended up in the side netting. Daly put in a stinger of a shot from distance, but the visiting keeper pulled off an excellent save.
Then Brakes won a penalty after Dodd was tripped and Batchelor put the ball into the top right-hand corner to make it 1-0 on 36 minutes. Then on 44 minutes Ricky Johnson made it 2-0 to Leamington after confusion in the St.Albans defence left the goal at his mercy.
Leamington were increasingly casual in the second half: I don't think the three substitutions helped, but I guess the players brought on needed a run out. St.Albans didn't give up and they were rewarded with an excellent consolation goal from distance on 89 minutes. Then it was time for the celebrations.
It's going to be a lot harder next season, but for now we can enjoy this year's success. I will be sorry to say goodbye to the Sheepside Stand, but needs must and no doubt many of the characters will find a new place to congregate.
No comments:
Post a Comment