FINALLY, IT'S CHAMPION HEATH!

Short Heath finally broke their ESPSFA League Title duck with victory over St Thomas More’s in Wednesday’s play-off final, avenging last season’s defeat in the same game. It was also the second time this season that Short Heath have ousted Tommy More’s in a final – they did like-wise when winning the ESPSFA Trophy back in December.

Four teams arrived at Castle Vale Stadium and undoubtedly, the four best teams across both divisions. Champions and runners-up competed in the semi-finals with eyes on the prize – the ESPSFA League Title.

Semi-Finals

St Thomas More 2 – 1 Paget

Going into the game Paget were coming off a superb elimination game performance against Abbey just under a fortnight ago and in this one, they started the livelier with STM a little rusty having not played for almost three weeks. And the P’s were rewarded midway through the first half when a neat move was finished by a striker slotting the ball under the advancing STM ‘keeper. As the half wore on, Tommy More’s began to warm to their task and equalised when a corner sailed over the Paget ‘keeper’s head and into the far corner of the net. The two sides headed into the break level at one apiece. The second half began with both struggling to make either goalkeeper work but five minutes in, STM were ahead. A long ball thumped forward by their ‘keeper was headed away by Paget, but Tommy More’s recycled the ball and the chance created thereafter was neatly finished from just inside the penalty area. From the on in, the red and blacks controlled the game, not allowing Paget time and space to fashion any sort of opportunity at goal and in doing so, made their way to another final showdown with Short Heath.

Short Heath 2 – 0 SSPP

Short Heath quickly became firm favourites for the final when SSPP could only field six players and were missing their star player and goal-keeper and though the black and whites admirably kept them at bay, Heath did eventually take the lead when a striker struck home following a rebound. Despite having the lion’s share of possession, Heath failed to add to their tally and had to be content with a single goal advantage at the interval. The second period resembled the first with Heath in control and SSPP gamely hanging on but when Heath’s midfield wizard waltzed around a couple of black and white defenders to then slide past the ‘keeper, the game was all but over. To their credit the SSPP six never gave up and can be proud of their performance despite the 2-0 defeat that took Short Heath to the final.

Final

Short Heath 2 – 0 St Thomas More

And so the two divisional champions came face to face – again – almost a year on to fight it out for the biggest prize in the ESPSFA. Though this wasn’t a classic in terms of drama and incident, it still had its moments and you could clearly see that these were the best two teams in the league and that they also both mutually respect each other.
Heath were quickest out of the blocks and in the very first minute a looping effort forced the STM ‘keeper into a spectacular flying save but in doing so, he injured himself and had to be replaced by their centre-back – an early blow for Tommy More’s. That, however, was as close as either side came to scoring and an intensely tight first-half came to a goal-less end. In the second stanza, Short Heath upped the ante and began to ask more questions of STM’s rearguard. Three minutes into the half and Heath had the lead. One again it was their midfield maestro who slalomed his way to goal before side-footing home – cue wild celebrations from those in light blue. Tommy More’s hardly had time to regather themselves when they fell further behind. Not long after kicking off, STM were robbed of the ball in midfield and as quick as a flash the ball was in their net again when a Heath defender took control and finished with aplomb. From there on in Heath were in no mood to relinquish their cushion and though Tommy More’s tried in vain to eek their way back into the game, Heath saw the remainder of the game out with minimum fuss.

For the record, Paget won the third-placed game, 5-0, comfortably defeating a tired SSPP side.

And so, finally, after years of hurt and disappointment, Short Heath are ESPSFA champions, congratulations to them and commiserations to St Thomas More’s, gallant in defeat.