WAM, BAM, THANK YOU SAM!

Sam Richardson was the hero as his last min goal was enough for RFC to beat Shuttle and land the DSIL Division One Cup. The two teams finished 2nd & 3rd in the league, both had a win a piece from the previous meetings, so it was always likely to be a close game. And so it proved to be as nothing could separate them during normal time, each side drawing blanks in an even but well supported, enthralling contest at Blackwell Meadows. However, with only 47 seconds left to go Richardson broke free of the fullback, rounded keeper Moorhouse and held his nerve to slot home the winner.

Alan 'Evergreen' Rusk was delighted with the win, 'It may be my last season with the team, so I'm delighted to see us win something and it's a nice way to say goodbye'.

A disappointed David Robinson reflected on the result, 'I thought we could have had it wrapped up in normal time, but credit to RFC they took their chance.'

Allstars will face Haughton in the Technocopy Cup Final after dispatching Argos/DHL. The crowds were also out in force at the Education Village and they saw the irrepressible Jack Johns give the home side the lead before Kes Smith hit back from a corner. With the game on a knife edge, the turning point came when Michael Richardson netted from the spot and Allstars never looked back. Man of the Match Moses cut in from the left to fire home the third, there was shades of Hatem Ben Arfa from Richardson who scored a wonderful individual goal for the forth before impromptu striker Bob Varyo finished the scoring. A typically un-phased Garry Mann looked forward to meeting Ronnie Coleman's League Champions at the end of season showpiece on May 5th, 'It was an accomplished performance. Hopefully we can take that form into the final and the 'noisy neighbors' will have something to shout about over the fence!'

GRANTS ARE CHAMPIONS AS THE DEACON FLUFF THEIR LINES

Grants Gym are the winners of the Division 2 title without having to kick a ball as the only team who could catch them, The Deacon, went down 0-2 against Havelock Arms at Carmel. The result means even if the Deacon win their remaining fixture against RI they will only reach 40 points, 1 short of Grants. The loss will be a bitter pill for The Deacon after coming so close, but they can console themselves with a guaranteed top three finish, Technocopy Cup Semi Final appearance and not to mention the upcoming Division 2 Cup Final, all in their first season from a team less than a year old.

With their destiny in their own hands, The Deacon were masters of their own downfall against a spirited Havelock side. The home side knew a result of any kind was required, but that task was made even harder when after a nervy opening, Captain Steve Howden, rose unchallenged to power home a header from a corner within the first 10mins. Despite not being able to challenge for the title themselves, the Havvy were in no mood to do their hosts any favors and the game struggled to get a consistent flow as the two sides cancelled each out. Even when the Deacon got sight of the visitors’ goal, Sam Pybus was on hand to shut them out. However, at the other end Denham made sure he gave his side every chance by proving an equal antidote to the free scoring Weston and Best. As the game wore on, The Deacon tried to force there way back into contention, but couldn’t find the final piece in the jigsaw and with the clock ticking, Dale Johnson delivered the fatal blow after scrambling home from a corner. The home side did mount a late challenge, but it was not to be. Archie Brown said he was proud of his players, ‘Obviously I’m disappointed to miss out on the title, but the upside is that we have been promoted at the first attempt. I’m already looking forward to and making plans for the challenge of Division 1’.

Huntsmen Goodfellas waved goodbye to the DSIL and signed off with a 3-1 win over ACE Cars at Tommy Crooks. The popular Aycliffe side are off to pastures new for 2012-13 and will be a sad loss. Goals from Lee Gray, Shaun Mackintosh and Daniel Stones ensured they leave on a high and finish in 4^th spot after leapfrogging Harrowgate Hill.

With league business wrapped up, the Cup competitions take centre stage from now on and RFC face Shuttle in the Division 1 Cup final this Sunday at the Rugby Club, Blackwell Meadows. It’s likely to be a close affair with two teams finishing second and third in the league so a good one for the neutrals to go along and watch. Kick-off is 10.30am and entrance is free. Meanwhile, Argos/DHL take on Allstars at the Education Village in the Technocopy Cup. The winner will face Haughton in the final. 

THE GOOD, BAD AND THE UGLY FROM HUNTSMEN

It was an up and down week for Goodfellas whose promotion dream was on and then possibly off again. With a lock out at Carmel, they traveled to Tommy Crooks to face fellow challengers The Deacon in the midweek game. Despite being down on numbers and a changed line up, the ‘home’ side created the early openings only to be let down by poor pass in the final third and some wayward finishing. Winger Chris Hope soon changed that though after tricking his man, he delivered the quality they had been missing for Huscroft to head home. Perhaps it was the unusual evening KO, but this failed to light the touch paper as the game struggled to get any consistent flow. However, The Deacon again gave the fans something to admire when Eddie Pearson latched onto a superb Goundary through ball and calmly slotted home. This should have been game over, but credit to Goodfellas they raised their spirits and Dave Neale started the fight back on 84mins with a 25 yard free-kick. With their tails up, the visitors went all out for an equalizer and their persistence paid off when they were awarded a penalty which Sheldon smashed home. Caretaker manager Sedgewick said he was proud of his player ‘We battled and showed fighting spirit to get back in the game, we just need more consistency and commitment because we are not far away but I’m delighted with that result’. It seems his players may have taken his comments about fighting spirit a little too literally as all of their good work was undone on Sunday after they were beaten 1-2 by Slaters in a fiery contest. The visitors started well and took a deserved lead when Paul Horsley curled home a free-kick. The game then exploded, when following off the ball incident, Williams was given his marching orders and it got worse for the home side as MOM Davey James kept his cool to finish off a lovely move. Goodfellas rallied after the break and Musgrave gave the 10 men hope with a well taken finish. However the lifeline was short lived as Foggin saw red with 20 mins to go. James Gilby was pleased to finish his campaign with a win, "I was very impressed with our performance today, we worked hard, kept our discipline and looked strong as a unit. When we play the big teams we raise our game, it’s just a shame we couldn’t do this all season". Meanwhile, The Deacon immediately got back in the groove after their midweek disappointment to hit Harrowgate Hill for 6 at Carmel. The visitors could only muster 10 men for their final game, but gave a decent account of themselves and after being 2-0 back to 2-2 at one point. However, they couldn’t hold on as Deacon made their superiority count. Lewis Henry returned to the line up and his pace was a welcome addition to the attack and he used it to devastating effect as he hit a hat-trick. Freddie Huscroft scored his 10^th goal in 9 games whilst substitute Mitchell Brown put the result beyond doubt before Tom Smalley smashed home late on. Man of the match Mikey Weston capped a tireless performance with a cool finish whilst Rob Harland powerfully headed home the Hills goals. 

LAVELLE ON THE DAY BUT RFC PIP ALLSTARS TO A TOP THREE FINISH

The Division One business was wrapped up on Sunday with RFC confirming a highly respectable third place finish in their first season the top flight. They faced Allstars at Blackwell Meadows with the two teams sharing 8 goals in a high scoring draw. RFC went into the game in 3rd spot and a point clear of their rivals so the result was enough to ensure they stayed there after 90mins. Twin Mike Lavelle was at the double whilst Matty Davison and Dean Thomas also netted for RFC whilst Allstars scorers were Thompson, Goodwin and two from Richardson. Elsewhere Haughton ended their Championship campaign unbeaten after a 2-0 over Brinkburn Lions who bow out of the DSIL after a 14 year association with the League in various different guises. Former player and Secretary Neil Jollie said he was sad to see the end of an era, ‘It’s a shame, especially as the team could only field 10-men in the last game on Sunday. Some of the older lads are hanging up their boots, the manager is moving on and no one wanted to take the reins so alas the Lions shall roar no more.’ Jollie said he will treasure the memory of being part of the clubs sole success when they won the 2005 Division 3 Cup, ‘We were underdogs on the day and nicked it on penalties. There was dancing on the streets of Darlington that night!’

It may be all over in Division 1, but it’s far from being done and dusted in Division 2. Grants Gym have played all of their games and laid down the marker by beating Slaters in the midweek game. A solitary John Wood goal was enough which means Grants finish on a total of 41 points and only The Deacon, who have 4 games to play, are capable of catching them. Slater’s boss, James Gilby, said he was disappointed not to get a result against the leaders, but was pleased his side made amends at the weekend with a 1-0 win over ACE Cars, ‘I thought we deserved something out of the game against Grants, we were so unlucky on the day. Then after dominating against ACE Cars it takes an own goal to get us the result, that’s football I guess!’ Meanwhile Goodfellas late promotion charge continued after they hit Croft for 6 at Moor Lane Park. Mackintosh poked home the opener and Michael Rippon managed to steer home a Durr cross to make it 2-0. The visitors pulled one back, but Carl Dixon curled home to make it 3-1 at the break. Dixon bagged his second after the restart whilst Durr and Gilham combined on two occasions to ensure a comfortable win for the Aycliffe lads.