INVINCIBLE DENE REIGN SUPREME!

Mapledene are the ESPSFA League Champions following an epic 2-1 play-off final victory over Abbey. It is the ‘dene’s maiden League title after over ten years in the ESPSFA and it capped an unprecedented season with them wining every game from September to May.

Having won the Premier division with some comfort, Mapledene began the evening as favourites, but they would first have to overcome Guardian Angels in the semi-final, whilst La Liga winners, Abbey, faced Timberley in the other tie.

Mapledene 3 – 0 Guardian Angels

Mapledene began the games brightly and created a presentable chance early on only to see Guardian Angels’ goalkeeper keep them out with a smart save. I would be the first of many he was forced to make in a first half dominated by the ‘dene. And when ‘dene finally shot past him, their defender, following a powerful surge forward, saw his strike thump a post. Angels thought they had taken the lead just before half-time when a shot from range struck the bar and bounce towards Mapledene’s ‘keeper who promptly grabbed the ball but as he did an Angels attacker poked home; the referee though correctly disallowed the goal as the goalkeeper had the ball in his hands – 0-0 at the break. Mapledene though flew out of the blocks in the second period and within a minute were 1-0 up after a neat shot veered into the far corner of the net. And in the blink of an eye, it was 2-0, ‘dene capitalised on a stray pass before firing home. Angels never gave up and despite creating few opportunities for themselves, they stuck to their task, but they were powerless to deny Mapledene a third goal late on.

Abbey 1 -0 Timberley

Timberley started on the front foot and pushed Abbey back in the opening minutes of what was a tight, hard-fought match between two hard-working sides. Abbey’s goalkeeper was the busier in the first 6 or 7 minutes of the game, so it was against the run of play when Abbey took the lead. Having gained meaningful possession for the first time, a midfielder struck a superb effort high into the Timberley net. The second half followed a similar pattern with Timberley probing but struggling to get beyond a resilient Abbey back-line who kept the Timbers at arms-length. Timberley though kept plugging away and in the last play of the game watched in agony as a far-post header drifted narrowly wide of the target.

Final - Mapledene 2 – 1 Abbey

It was fitting that both divisional champions met in the final and the two protagonists produced a brilliant and highly entertaining encounter. As has been the case for the whole season, Mapledene started the better and pushed Abbey back with the amber and black’s ‘keeper making a couple of decent saves. Mapledene weren’t to be deterred, and their attacking play was rewarded when their tall, lean midfielder expertly side-footed home from just outside the penalty area. With that same midfielder, aided and abetted by an attack-minded defender, ‘dene cut through Abbey at will but they saw shots from range fly over and they had to be content with just the one goal advantage at the interval. Abbey must have been given a stern half-time talk from manager, Mr Wiltshire, as the Erdington side began to apply pressure to the ‘dene defence. They had, what they thought was a good shout for a penalty following a clumsy ‘dene challenge, but the referee was unmoved. Abbey weren’t distracted by that and continued to press forward and midway through the half, they had an equaliser. Their number ten clattered a volley in off the far post. That goal ramped the game up still further, but it was Mapledene who were now the enforcers and though they shot wide when in good positions or saw the ball hit the woodwork. However, they weren’t to be denied and three minutes from time, their elegant midfielder waltzed his way through the Abbey defence before slotting past the ‘keeper. The game continued at a great pace and chances came and went at both ends but Mapledene hung on to win their first ever ESPSFA League title.

In the third and fourth place game, Guardian Angels took the honours, defeating Timberley by four goals to one.