THORNTON TAKE PREMIER TITLE!

Thornton are the Premier Division champions after sealing the crown on Thursday evening. The Thorns secured four precious points at Holly Lane on Thursday evening which, allied with a 4-0 walkover win over Marsh Hill, takes the Thorns to an unassailable 37 points. The title is just reward for a team who are unbeaten all season and took maximum points from all bar one game – a draw. The title also ensures a place in June's play-off finals.

Thornton’s four points this evening came courtesy of a 1-1 draw with Featherstone and a 2-1 win over play-off chasing St Thomas More's. Against the Feathers, the Thorns were made to work hard for their point and didn’t help themselves when they put through their own net. However, Thornton persevered and though they missed a hatful of chances, finally took one two minutes from time. The game with St Thomas More's was an absolute cracker. Two teams at the top of their game going toe-to-toe and STM made most of the running and though they created the majority of the chances, they could only breach a stubborn Thornton defence the once and football being football, they were punished twice by swift Thornton counter-attacks and the points, and subsequent title, went sailing back to Alum Rock. In the evening’s other game, Featherstone pulled out all the stops to further dent STM’s play-off ambitions, holding them to a 0-0 stalemate.

There was another heavyweight tussle over in Shard End as Timberley welcomed title-seeking SS Peter & Paul to their Bradley Road home. Prior to kick-off, the Timbers knew that three points would lift them closer to a top three finish, but P&P didn’t oblige and were ruthless in a 4-0 win which means three more wins from their remaining games will give them a play-off berth.

Over at Castle Vale Stadium, mid-table plodders Erdington Hall, Highfield and Rosary met and it was the former who had the happier evening. Firstly Erd Hall narrowly defeated a battling Highfield side, 1-0 and they then repeated that score-line against an obstinate Rosary. Rosary then met Highfield in an Alum Rock derby and a couple of defensive errors from the Rosarians helped ‘field to a 3-1 win.

Congratulations to Timberley then on their maiden title success and behind them there will be an almighty scramble for the two remaining play-off places; Timberley and SSPP look favourites for them but St Thomas More, Erdington Hall and even Corpus Christi back in sixth place could still make late dashes.