Jackson Anderson Accountants Spennymoor Sunday League
CROXDALE were crowned Division Two champions after they just edged the final league game of the season.
And it was a bitter pill to swallow for runners-up Quinns, who lost the championship to an unfortunate own goal five minutes from time.
The game was at a stalemate and heading for a draw, which would have handed leaders Quinns the title.
But Gavin Bell’s free-kick was turned into his own net by defender Jonathan Dent, and that was enough to gift Croxdale the title after a closely-fought game.
“We’re obviously over the moon that we’ve won the league,” said victorious manager Craig Fish. “But it was a shame for it to be decided that way as Quinns didn’t deserve to lose the game, we just had that slice of luck which was enough to win the game. But it was an excellent match, the best I’ve seen all season, played in the right spirit. But it was pleasing to finish the season with a really hard-fought game to win the title after such a promising season, so I was proud of the lads and the way they went about their game, it was brilliant!”
Quinns can console themselves by the fact they had already won two trophies this season – the B&A Trophy and the Kelvin McIntosh Division Two Cup.
Boss Keith Brain said: “We’d have swapped one of the cups for the league to be fair! But we said at the start of the season, our aim was to win two trophies, and we did that. We have also won promotion to Division One as runners-up so that’s an achievement as well, so overall it has been an excellent season for us.”
• Lakeside take on Belvedere in the Paul Stevens Memorial Trophy this Sunday (28th May). The league’s final game of the 2005-06 season will be held at the Sunnydale Leisure Centre’s pitch within the new athletics track in Shildon, kick-off 10.30am.
• The next league meeting will be the AGM at the North Briton in Aycliffe Village on Wednesday 7th June from 8pm. Clubs are reminded that those wishing to continue in the league for the 2006-07 season MUST be in attendance.
• The league’s end-of-season presentation night will take place on Friday 9th June at Old Shildon WMC, with entertainment by local band the Zoo, tickets priced £3.
