Roffey FC are champions... YMCA and Bears share spoils

Roffey 3 Billingshurst 2

SCFL division one

In their first full season in senior football, Roffey completed a fairytale title win by beating neighbours Billingshurst in front of a big crowd with a hard fought and dramatic 3-2 victory.

This leaves them seven points clear of Midhurst with only this week’s visit to Shoreham to complete their season.

As they had in their previous two games, the Boars fell behind, this time after just two minutes when they allowed a free header at the far post after some early Hurst pressure.

Horsham FC trio will be missed.

The hosts continued on the front foot for the next ten minutes with Hughes saving comfortably.

Gradually, Roffey started to move the ball with miore purpose and Josh Neathey drew a good save from Tom Baxter from a far post volley.

They finally equalised when James Pearse swept home a cross in the 35th minute.

Roffey were now playing with more confidence and two minutes later, skipper Tiago Andrade pivoted in the box and smashed the ball into the top corner to give his team the lead. Just as the hosts were getting into their stride, the game was held up for nearly ten minutes.

Hill happy to get better of Valley.

First Saz Bidgood was shown a straight red card and in the aftermath Nick Tilley was dismissed from the dugout after a disagreement with the assistant referee. Once the game restarted, neither side could get into their stride and it stayed 2-1 at the break.

Roffey continued to look for the third at the beginning of the second half, but the game was again disrupted when the referee suffered a foot injury and was forced to leave the pitch. Qualified referee Josh Dance took over on the line and the assistant replaced the referee.

Baxter got down well to block Neathey’s drive from the edge of the box when the game resumed but then out of the blue, Billingshurst equalised.

A long ball into the area appeared covered by Hayden Neathey, but he let it drop behind him and Hughes no chance of saving from close range.

The nerves were jangling, particularly when news came that title rivals Midhurst had equalised against Godalming.

Baxter again thwarted the boars and then Wanstall’s cross shot came back of the bar. At the other end, Hughes pushed a header against the post and luckily it came straight back into his hands.

Then a second Billingshurst player was dismissed following a second yellow card. As the 90 minutes approached, Roffey were given a free kick right on the edge of the box though many people thought the offence had been inside. It did not matter as Dan Pearse stepped up to drive in a hard low shot which evaded Rendall and Baxter to nestle inside the far post and send the fans into raptures.

Five added minutes were negotiated with no further alarm and Roffey were champions as the celebrations began.

One full season in senior football, one championship and now, Andy Lampard and his management team know the hard work begins.

SAM CHAPMAN

Horsham YMCA 1

Broadbridge Heath 1

SCFL premier

In the last game of the season at Gorings Mead, Horsham YMCA welcomed near neighbours Broadbridge Heath for a well contested, see-sawing game.

It featured 12 corners, two penalties and plenty of goalscoring opportunities, but culminated in both sides being reasonably content to share the points

After a lively start, Mason Doughty blazed over for Heath, followed by two YM corners, before the visitors’ long range shot passed safely by, and, with action switching to the other end, Liam Matthews saving a home strike with his feet.

With 10 minutes left until half-time, and both sides creating pressure, onrushing YM keeper Aaron Jeal crashed into Doughty, Jamie Taylor slotting home the spot kick.

YM responded with sub Archie Goddard unleashing an easily averted drive, but Heath were now on top, only for Doughty to shoot wide.

Recovering, two YM corners came and went ahead of unfulfilled chances created by Heath.

YM might have equalised from a Sam Henderson curler, which just evaded the goal, the score remaining 1-0 in Heath’s favour at the break.

A golden opportunity evaporated just after the re-start, Lewis Croal being well off target with only Jeal to beat.

Goddard’s shot was blocked before he was floored in the area, the penalty enabling Tom Tolfrey to equalise for YM in the 52nd minute.

Heath quelled YM’s momentum with an immediate corner, negated by Jeal’s superb reaction grab, four more Heath set pieces following in quick succession. Henderson and Jay Popham tested Heath before, with the ball in the net, Heath looked to have snatched a win at the death, but Ben Cooksley’s clean volley was ruled off side.