WITH spring just around the corner Hall Road's 2016-2017 season was in full blossom as they chased a return to the NCEL Premier Division
The next visit for Hall Road Rangers, now in the middle of an eleven game unbeaten run saw them make their first trip to the border of Sherwood Forest to take on Ollerton Town.
Joe Cooper had given Hall Road the lead nine minutes in, darting to get on the end of a Chris Spinks corner and nodding his tenth goal of the season.
It looked comfortable for Rangers, but they were pegged back by a high energy Ollerton Town side who equalised through Mark Carter, eighteen minutes from time.
Hall Road's attentions turned back to the East Riding Senior Cup, and now at the Quarter Final stage met Hanson Jewellers at a cold Kelvin Hall School.
The Humber Premier League side were superb, and were good value for their 2-0 lead after 40 minutes thanks to a double from Lou Overton.
Hall Road grabbed one back though on the brink of half time through Jake Vernon and this proved vital.
This gave Rangers the impotus but it still looked like missing chances would come back to haunt them once more.
They were thankful therefore to Joe Cooper's equaliser on 73.
Hanson kept going and forced the game to penalties, and it was young keeper Thibault Granger who showed great maturity to stand tall and help keep out some tired spot kicks.
James Whittingham, Danny Norton and Chris Spinks converted their penalties to see Rangers home and set up a semi-final with Hull City.
Bridlington Town and Pocklington Town were the other teams to advance.
A tense trip to promotion rivals AFC Emley came a week later.
Hall Road enjoyed the best of the opening half hour but failed to make their possession count.
AFC Emley who were missing leading scorer Ashley Flynn also lacked a cutting edge as the game ended goalless.
With goals from the front line drying up Dave Ricardo brought in Danny Chambers from Goole on a dual registration.
Chambers made his debut in the 3-1 home win over Eccleshill United and looked lively but failed to find the net.
That duty fell to Josh Batty on 37 minutes, but when Charlie Flaherty equalised two minutes later the promotion places looked to be slipping away.
That was until James Piercy rolled home from close range, before Connor Harman scored his first goal for the club with a free kick just inside the Eccleshill half which evaded everybody.
After a deluge of rain, the club's groundstaff, most notably Lee Myers and Alan Chaplin had a monumental task of trying to get Hall Road's home clash with Penistone to take place.
They managed to get the game on, and the club were indebted to their efforts as they recorded a dramatic win.
Playing with a strong wind in the first half they only had a Josh Batty goal to show for their efforts at the break.
In the second half Rangers managed the heavy conditions and the wind superbly.
When Ash Dexter and James Piercy combined though to bring down Brett Lovell in the penalty area Rangers looked to have blown an excellent chance.
A fine low penalty was matched by Phil Dobson though who flung himself to his left to palm away the spot kick.
Almost immediately Rangers broke and after Spinks squared from the left for Jack Binns, the substitute showed great composure to calmy roll the ball home.
Binns goal proved the winner as Danny Joynes sensational strike ensured a nervy finish in added time, but again Rangers hung on to record three huge points.
Rangers then backed that up with wins against Winterton Rangers and Grimsby Borough also at Haworth Park.
At this stage the automatic promotion race was between three sides.
Hall Road, Pontefract Collieries and AFC Emley were all battling each other for the two spots.
Ricardo targeted six wins out of the remaining seven games but insisted his side must get something at Pontefract who came next.
Sadly Rangers were well beaten on the day.
The first half an hour though Rangers were denied by numerous first class saves from Ben Saynor but they were made to pay when on 34 minutes Jordan Turner scored a screamer.
Turner then added a second, five minutes after the break.
Gareth Owen missed a glorious chance to get Rangers back in the game but missed the target and Rangers collapsed afterwards, Chris Jackson added a third, before Turner completed his hat-trick to compound a miserable afternoon.
There was scant consolation for Hall Road in the days that followed as the points from the Shirebrook debacle were awarded, and they followed it up with a dominant 4-0 win over Brigg Town.
With five games remaining, no more slip ups could be afforded, as this would take the initiative away from Hall Road and would mean they would have to rely on results elsewhere.
They brought in Jamie Coulson, a striker from NCEL Premier Division side Staveley MW and after a 200 mile round trip from secretary Alan Chaplin, Coulson made his debut at Teversal.
The first half was devoid of any real quality, Rangers were guilty of trying to force the issue in the first-half.
Ricardo introduced Gareth Owen from the bench during the break and he broke the deadlock on 53 minutes.
It felt like Hall Road may go on and add to their tally, but that never materialised.
They were pegged back in freak circumstances eight minutes later though.
Phil Dobson palmed a stinging effort away but only into the unwitting path of Sam Belcher who ricocheted into his own net to restore parity.
Coulson was introduced as Hall Road tried to go direct but they failed to find another way through.
This now meant, even if Rangers won all their remaining fixtures they needed help from elsewhere to get automatic promotion.
For an hour at Dronfield the hangover continued as the season entered its final month.
On a hard, bobbly pitch Rangers struggled to deal with Dronfield's physical and direct route to goal.
Dronfield had a goal chalked off for offside, but Christian Savage broke through to cooly slot past Dobson on just ten minutes.
The game was swung back in Rangers favour with the substitutes made by the management team. Jamie Coulson was introduced.
Savage who was the hero earlier, put through his own net before Coulson bravely nodded Hall Road in front.
The win was guaranteed five minutes from time when Ash Dexter netted.
Pontefract saw off Campion whilst Emley beat Shirebrook to keep Rangers in third.
The East Riding Senior Cup semi-final with Hull City followed, however their superior fitness and extra bit of quality was telling as they brushed Rangers aside to set up a final with Bridlington Town.
With one eye on Hall Road's final home fixture of the season against Nostell MW, chairman Darren Sunley offered a free drink to all paying supporters as a thank you for their support and to try and swell numbers into Haworth Park.
On the day of the grand national, both Hall Road's promotion rivals fell, Emley were held against Selby Town, whilst Yorkshire Amateur beat Pontefract Collieries.
Hall Road recorded an expected win against bottom side Nostell but the ruthless edge they showed to win 8-0 was especially impressive as Joe Cooper bagged a hat-trick.
It was now down to the final two games of the season.
Hall Road moved into second, win their remaining games, not only would they be promoted, but they would reach the NCEL Premier Division as champions.
With the bit between their teeth, they battled to a 1-0 win against an improved Rossington Main during the NCEL's Easter Weekend ground hop.
Josh Batty won a first half penalty and Chris Spinks smashed home his 26th goal of the season from the spot.
Emley won their final game to take the race to the final day after Pontefract had recovered to see off Knaresborough a day earlier.
So the scene was set for final day drama as Hall Road, backed by a travelling army of support travelled to Campion, a club that can take credit from their first season in the NCEL.
Rangers set about their task in the ideal fashion, been positive and showing next to no nerves of the occasion.
It was just nine minutes in when Josh Batty set them on their way nodding past an onrushing keeper to settle the team down further.
The game was going to plan, Campion showed promise out wide but largely service into Eli Hey, a 40 goal striker was stifled.
It was Hey's persistence though that saw Rangers plans suffer a double blow on 25 minutes.
Gareth Owen was adjudged to have hauled down Hey when through on goal and the referee deemed it a goal scoring opportunity and not only awarded a penalty but reduced Hall Road to ten men.
Jason Davis stepped up to smash past Dobson and level things up.
As it stood Rangers were again in the playoffs.
That wasnt for long though as more confusion surrounded the game.
After the linesman flagged for offside, the referee called play-on and as the keeper believed it was a dead ball situation he dropped the ball to take the free-kick.
Josh Batty showed great awareness and nipped in to round a bewildered keeper and tap into an empty net.
Hall Road managed the game well and although Campion had chances, so did the champions elect.
When the full-time whistle blew, they were fantastic scenes.
Pontefract's win at Worsborough did nothing to affect Hall Road's march to the title, and a class act from Campion as well, providing a guard of honour as Rangers made their way to the dressing room.
Next season the club can look forward to derbies against Goole and Bridlington Town whilst trips to the likes of Worksop Town and Garforth Town also beckon.
So the moral of the story quite simply is dreams do come true if you are willing to work hard for them and not stop believing.
Maybe its a good idea to now set another point target of 61 for next season...