3rd's take the Title.

Talk about doing things the hard way!! Lydney's `A` team had their final league game with Whitecroft moved to Lakers School ground at Berry Hill and then put their supporters through 90 minutes of torture before Connor Jones netted a last minutes equaliser to give his team the point they needed. Weston Athletic, the only team that could prevent them taking the title certainly did their bit when they won 4-2, so the lads had to avoid defeat. They started quite well as did their opponents, but the strong wind prevented much goalmouth incident in the early exchanges. It all changed on 20 minutes. Whitecroft played a long ball into the box where the referee awarded a dubious penalty for a Lydney handball. Former Town man Scott James stepped up to take it but Ricky Burcher made a superb stop with his feet to deny him. Two minutes later Dec made them pay. He broke into the box and finished in style to give Town the lead. Whitecroft went straight back on the attack and forced a corner that Dean Lancaster headed inches wide. The score remained 0-1 at halftime. Whitecroft came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and equalised after 4 minutes. The ball was played across the face of Lydney's area and Kear was on the far post to tap home. Lydney were on the back foot now and the back four looked very nervous. After Connor Jones had a shot hacked off the line, Whitecroft went up the other end and Kear netted his second to give his side the lead. With 10 minutes left on the clock Harvey Brown went on for Aaron Price and almost immediately Connor Jones was brought down for a Lydney pen. Dec(pictured) once again held his nerve to give the keeper no chance with the kick. Not to be denied Whitecroft piled forward again and 5 minutes from the end they went in front for a second time. Some poor defending from a corner saw the ball bundled home at the far post. It looked like the end for Lydney but they kept battling. With the ref looking at his watch Ricky Burcher launched a massive kick down the pitch that bounced on the edge of the box where Connor Jones followed it in and headed just inside the back stick to send the management team into mental raptures. The Div.2 league title was in the bag!!!
It wasn't their best display of the season but they stuck at it and deserved the point. Bug Burrows, Dec, Connor and Tom Paige all had decent games, but it was the team performance that merited the point that gave them the title on goal difference.