BELL TAKE PREMIER CROWN!

Harper Bell sealed the Premier division crown on Wednesday afternoon and in the process, completed an astonishing 17 wins from 17 games record. Last season they were pipped to the title by Brownmead, but Bell were clear winners this term and they will fly into the league play-offs on 20th June, where a semi-final clash with Yardley Youths awaits. Both Brownmead and Mapledene can still finish second and crucially they clash in Shard End next week and a point from that game will be enough for 'mead - whoever grabs that coveted second spot, will take on reigning champions, Abbey, in the other play-off semi-final.
On another sunny afternoon at St Matthew’s, in leafy Nechells, Bell secured back-to-back victories, but they were made to fight hard by a resilient Parkfield outfit. The Alum Rock side rocked last season’s Premier champions with a goal inside 10 seconds, but Bell rallied instantly and had an equaliser a minute later. Terrific goalkeeping and defending from ‘field meant the sides went in at the break level at 1 apiece. Bell though upped the ante in the second stanza and netted three times without reply to secure a 4-1 win. Included amongst the goals was one of sublime excellence - a mazy dribble past four players before a delicate chipped finish.
In Bells’ second outing of the afternoon, they took on an Alston side who were unlucky to lose their opening game, 2-0 against Parkfield. Alston played some attractive football but struggled to cope with Bell’s power and pace and succumbed to a 5-0 defeat in front of a sparkling attendance of 4.