FLURRY OF GOALS CAN'T TAKE AWAY FROM HIGHEST EVER FINISH

Last season Wandsworth Borough’s final game of the season was a fixture in which they needed a point to be crowned Senior 1 Champions. This season it was their opposition, Old Hamptonians who needed just a point to be mathematically assured of the league title.

Having been on the end of a humping from their opposition earlier on in the season, including a goal within 16 seconds of kick-off, the Borough were well aware of the threat that their opponents possessed, especially in the opening exchanges.

10 minutes in and it was the Champions-elect who were to be stunned though. A ball was looped into the box and with Barwick out in the channels, Denzil was there to meet it, but as he headed it on he felt the full force of the keeper’s attempted punch and after a moment of consideration, the referee pointed to the spot. Gibb stepped up and kept his 100% conversion rate from the spot, 1-0 to the Borough.

Hamptonians were rattled and started becoming very whingy, moaning at every offside decision and tackle, something that Taf was relishing. They calmed down a bit though when they were awarded a free kick midway through the first half just outside the corner of the box. One of those cross-come-shots was sent in and as two players jumped to meet the ball, neither of them connected as Wilmer was expecting, leaving him wrong-footed as the ball painfully sailed past him.

The half continued in a pretty even manner with Rolfe having a couple of long-range efforts, one of which just whistled past the post and Hamptonians having a few nibbles of their own but nothing the back five didn’t deal with comfortably.

1-1 at the interval, a fair reflection of the game and 45 minutes well done from the Borough. However, the half-time O’Hare instructions and praises were soon forgotten as the first five minutes of the second half was an absolute sh*t show. A completely uncontested header from a corner and two defensive collapses saw Hamptonians stroll into a 4-1 lead without having to even break a sweat.

The Borough finally woke up after the three gifts and made it a bit more of a contest again with Barwick having a half-chance that wasn’t really a cross or a shot and was then put through one-on-one and saw his lob go agonisingly wide of the post.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, Hamptonians scored again from a corner to extinguish any hopes that remained. The ball swirled and hung in the air and as it dropped on the penalty spot neither the 1st nor 2nd ball was dealt with and the ball was stabbed home from close range.

Hamptonians didn’t take their foot off the pedal and Wilmer pulled off a good save when it looked like the Hamps' 10 would surely score, but he could do nothing moments later when they did then grab their 6th to put the final nail in the coffin.

A very disappointing 45 minutes to end the season but it shouldn’t really deflect from what has overall been a good season. Mid-table in the Prem after back to back promotions is nothing to be sniffed at and this crop of players should be proud of what they have achieved in the last three years. With a little bit better availability and a LOT less injuries the final table position could have been even better.

The bar has been set for next season though and I’m confident there are still better things to come next season. Thanks as ever go to Des for all his efforts throughout the year. UTB.