Stone Take Stranglehold in Title Bid!

By Joe Perkins

Hillstone make it 11 out of 11; SSPP pip Timbers; Hale and Youths share spoils.

The run-in to the end of the La Liga division began in with Hillstone and Blakenhale hosting games on Tuesday afternoon. Five schools were involved in four matches with the outcome seeing Hillstone returning to top spot, remaining unbeaten with a 100% record and reaffirming their title aspirations.

Hillstone opened proceedings against near-neighbours Timberley, and in a one-sided first half Hillstone’s brilliant finishing and swift counter attacks provided four, unanswered goals. In the second stanza, Timberley improved, but the home goalkeeper was rarely tested, and the game petered out into a comfortable 4-0 win for the Stone.

Play-off chasing SS Peter & Paul then took to the field against a smarting, Timberley. An end to end game ensued with chances galore but a solitary SSPP goal won the affair, though on any other day the score could've easily have been 4-4.

Buoyed by their 1-0 triumph, SSPP were in fine fettle for their clash with the now league-leaders, Hillstone. A cagey opening half saw both sides feeling each other out but as half-time loomed, ‘stone nudged ahead and from that point on, took control of the game. A brilliantly worked second goal, followed by a third from the penalty spot, saw the Stone home; their third goal was also their fiftieth of the campaign.

Across in Garretts Green, Blakenhale and Yardley battled away with both sides still having designs on the coveted third play-off spot. The game flowed brilliantly throughout and both ‘keepers pulled off some unbelievable saves. However, four goals were eventually scored and shared by the two teams and they had to suffice with a point apiece, a better one for the Youths than the ‘hale.

Hillstone back on top then and looking odds-on now to lift the divisional title, they are a point ahead of Abbey and have two games in hand. With Abbey looking likely to keep their second placing, the third berth is still a possibility for four schools: Yardley, SSPP, Rosary and St Bernadette’s.

Where next?

Meteoric Dene Reach Zenith! Mapledene go top; Forest fire 8; Parkfield suffer double defeat.
Relentless Dene Right On Song! Maples down 'mead; Corpus suffer Highfield setback; Heathlands and Coles bag double wins; Thorns and Parkfield grab victories; no joy for Alston or Erd Hall; Oval win thriller.

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