The final issues in the League Season were finally decided in two crucial midweek fixtures.
Firstly a Cup-weary ARYPT1 edged past a stubborn Binley by two goals to one. Congratulations to ARYPT1 on a sparkling season- bettering their great League win of last season. Anyone who’s played against them will testify to the quality of their football and their two trophies this season come as no surprise. They will be an even bigger scalp next season.
Binley remained nervous of relegation then for a short period until the result came through from the Hinckley Baptist/Cov Saints match. Cov Saints overcame Hinckley by six goals to two. That result condemned Hinckley to an immediate return to Division 2. The top flight will certainly bid them a sad farewell. Apart from being a really good humoured bunch, they have the best pitch in the League!
Well done also to Cov Saints, who are on course for a top three finish. Don’t forget that this is the team that was languishing in the depths of Division 2 two years ago. All credit to them for becoming one of the really strong teams in the League.
A big congratulations this weekend to Elim & Paint The Town Red, both of whom clinched promotion to Division 1. Well done to both teams! In Division 1, Binley’s victory over Cathedral has sealed their fate and they’ll be playing in Division 2 next season. They’ll be joined by one of Hinckley Baptist/Binley or Lowfors depending on how the remaining fixtures play out.
ARYPT head with seeming invinciblity towards a League and Cup Double. But they were made to fight all the way to cup success by a spirited Sporting Club Myton in the Cup Final at Cryfield Grange today.
Following a goaless first half, where ARYPT had the better of the chances the game spang into life in a pivotal ten minute spell. Firstly Myton crafted a well worked goal finished well by Stu James after fantastic approach play by Andy Armitage. Then Sam Smith of Myton saw yellow then red in quick succession, reducing the Leamington team to ten men. However Myton’s young keeper continued to keep ARYPT at bay as the minutes drained away, only for ARYPT to snatch an equaliser at the death following a close range shot that deflected in off the post. Myton reflected ruefully that they were two minutes from glory.
Extra time came and with the man advantage, most of the initiative came came from ARYPT. The game stayed level into the middle of the second half of extra time, until a succession of a corner followed by a long throw undid the defiant Myton rearguard. The clinching third goal came shortly afterwards, with Myton pushing forward and ARYPT taking advantage of the break. The move and effectively the game was finished off with a stunning strike into the far corner of the net.
The game was closely fought between two footballing sides and was a great credit to the League. ARYPT are the team to beat next season.
Well they left it late (the match that is) but Sporting Myton and Meredith Road cooked up a treat this morning in the second Cup Semi-Final.
Myon took a first half lead, 1-0, only to be pegged back by Meredith with a penalty kick. Myton then scored again, only to be taken back to level again by Meredith late on. Myton were not finished and scored what was surely to be a winner in injury time…only for Meredith to score again to force the game into extra time.
No further goals and penalties ensued. Myton eventually prevailed thanks to goalkeeping heroics.
A fantastic match and all credit to Meredith for making it such a game.
In an intense match in Leamington this morning, Sporting Myton and Cov Saints could not be separated after 120 minutes, drawing 2-2. It all came down to penalties, which the Sporting Myton edged by four goals to three.
Therefore the right to play ARYPT1 in the final will now bea straight contest between Sporting Myton and Meredith Road. The match will be played again at Myton’s Leamington ground on 9th May, just a week before the final itself.
The sides met at the same stage in 2006, that last time Myton made it this far. On that occasion Meredith (having already taken the League title) won 2-0 in a closely fought game.
Well it’s long overdue, but here’s an overview of this week’s results as we move into the business end of the Season.
First things first, ARYPT1 are starting to dominate the League and continued their progress towards a second Division 1 Title in a row with a 3-2 win at Lowfors. In a game at windswept Whitley, Lowfors led 2-1 with 7 minutes to go. However it’s victories in games like these make champions and a late double overturned a shock Lowfors victory. Really hard luck on Lowfors who have had a poor run of recent results.
Another team in a similar run of bad results is Cathedral. They entertained Sporting Club who have turned round an awful Autumn run to chalk up 4 straight wins in the last 2 months. In a game of two halves, Cathedral came back strongly in the second half having gone a goal down very early on. Their sixtieth minute equaliser looked likely to set them on the path to victory, however Myton seem to have forgotten how to lose and managed to find a winner with 15 minutes to go. A well-contested close game.
Elsewhere First Division new boys, Cov Saints, stayed hot on the heels of Sporting Myton with an impressive 3-1 victory over Meredith Road. That battle for second is looking very interesting. Affinity continued their impressive season with a 4-1 victory over Binley. Having successfully staved off relegation the last two seasons due to League resignations and new teams joining, they seem set to cement their place in the Top Flight this season.
In Division 2, the contest for promotion is hotter than ever. A rejuvenated Elim beat ARYPT2 by four goals to one. Elsewhere Paint the Town Red won 3-0 at Mosaic. St John’s are not giving up top spot lightly however. Goals from Mike Mayes, Chris Baines and Joe Reddy saw them overcome New Horizons 3-0. In the final game, Hinckley Dare’s bid for an automatic return to the top flights seems to have hit the buffers as they suffered a 2-0 reversal at Queen’s Road.
We’ve been advised by the League this morning that the outcome of the Manager’s meeting differed from our previous understanding.
It was agreed that the teams will do their best to try and fulfill the fixture. If that was not possible then the game would be awarded to Paint the Town Red, 3-0.
In the light of this, the official results have been amended.
As stated before, this is a results service, not a debating forum. If anyone wants to discuss it further, then they should do so via their manager who will raise it in turn with the League.
We’ve had emails from a couple of players from Elim Eagles complaining about the result of 3-0 to PTTR.
The result was posted following this email to us dated 10th March:
“This game was not postponed. Elim could not field a team and therefore have forfeited the game. This was confirmed at the managers meeting last night. The rules state PTTR to be awarded a 3-0 win.”
We rely on two things to provide an accurate results service:
1. The integrity of people in supplying the correct result;
2. The League Rules in the case of dispute
Based on the information supplied to us, we have no option other than to post the result as being 3-0 to PTTR. The rules are strict on this. Unless the Managers’ meeting wishes to re-open the debate then the result will stand.
This is not the forum to debate issues such as this. Can we suggest that it is raised at the next Manager’s meeting?
Getting quite a few angry e-mails about not updating the website - but the scores go up as soon as we receive them. If you see a game not updated, it’ll be because no-one has told us either the score, or the fact that it’s been called off.
We don’t routinely check the comments for score updates - the best way to get scores updated (if you know them) is to e-mail us at results@covchurchfootball.co.uk. We’ll put them up ASAP. Or give your manager a kick up the backside, as they are meant to update us promptly.
Cup fixtures are lagging a bit as quite a few games from the previous round haven’t been played yet, and there is no way to put fixtures in if one or more of the teams aren’t known yet - sorry about that. We’ll put them in when we can though.
Well who would have thought it? Normally the opening fixture takes place under azure skies on bowling green level playing surfaces. Not this year though as the Monsoon swept through the Midlands.
Just one match survived the weather- in the League’s far north up in Hinckley. In a match-up between the new debutants in Division 2, Hinckley Baptist B defeated Mosaic 6-3. A good game by all reports and welcome to both of you!
Monday night saw the Cup Draw. With the extra teams this year, we are holding a preliminary round involving four teams on 4th October. The winners of Hinckley B and Elim will face Lowfors at home. The victors in the St John’s and Hinckley Dare clash will face the tasty prospect of cup-holders Meredith Road at home. The “First Round Proper” will take place on 1st November.
Thanks to all of you for making this a fantastic League to be part of. Here’s to another great season.