No.60 - Sat. 3rd May 2008; Eastern Counties League Premier Division                       3.00pm at Julius Martin Lane, Soham, Cambs. (Att: 680; Admn: £5; Prog: £1) 

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 Soham Town Rangers (1) 4  Needham Market (0) 0 

Rangers run riot in title decider 

Forty one games played, and it was down to the final match of the season to decide the destination of this season’s Ridgeons Eastern Counties League Championship. Since Soham’s last game against Leiston two weeks ago, Needham had played four games, and closed the gap at the top of the table to two points, having taken seven points from their three games in hand. Needham knew they had to win the game, whilst Soham just had to avoid defeat to become Champions, and secure promotion. It doesn't get more exciting than this does it? Definitely a good enough reason to abandon plans of visiting a new ground if ever I needed one!

On a hot, sunny Bank Holiday Saturday afternoon ideal for football, the game was played on a perfect pitch in front of the largest crowd seen at the Lane is season (680). In the opening minutes Rangers had the better of the play and looked dangerous on the break. Midway through the half Simpson found Jimson with a well delivered through ball, but Jones pulled off a fine save to divert the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner, the hosts gained the advantage as Jimson headed Kearns’ corner over Jones into the roof of the net, and although Berry tried in vain to keep the ball out, the referee's assistant indicated it had in fact crossed the goal line, awarding the goal. Six minutes after the break Soham doubled their lead when Kearns’ corner was palmed clear by Jones, but only to Libam, who played the ball to the edge of the area; Carter pumped it back into the box, where Coleman nodded it along the six yard line for the unmarked Jimson to place it inside the far post, much to the annoyance of the Suffolk side, who appealed for offside, with Buckle being cautioned for his comments he made to the officials. Two minutes later the title was virtually decided, as the hosts scored a third. Bromwich’s freekick was played forward, with Simpson knocking it in field to Callum Kearns who fired an unstoppable 25 yard shot past a helpless Jones, much to the delight of the Soham players and bench as they celebrated the midfielder’s first Soham goal. Things went from bad to worse for the visitors in the 73rd minute, when substitute Andy Jones when shown a straight red card for kicking out at Libam, fourteen minutes after coming on. With ten minutes remaining, the Greens made sure that the title was coming to Soham as they scored their fourth of the afternoon. Libam was given plenty of room on the right to deliver a diagonal ball across the pitch to Furnell, who returned it back into the middle for the incoming Kearns to fire across goal and inside the far post for his second of the game. The only down point of the game for Rangers came three minutes before the end, when Libam was also harshly shown a straight red card for the use of his elbow as he tried to hold off a challenge from Pilcher on his way to goal. As the game came to a close, Bailey curled an effort wide of the post and Jordan tipped over from Snell. But after three minutes of injury time, referee Blackledge’s whistle ended the game, much to the delight of the hosts as the celebrations began.

After the match, joint captains Peter Hinde and Michael Simpson lifted the winners’ trophy giving Soham Town Rangers the Ridgeons League Premier Division championship for the first time in their history, and with it promotion to level four*. For weary-legged Needham this was another bitter disappointment to add to their recent FA Vase Semi-Final exit to Kirkham & Wesham played a few weeks ago. The players look jaded after what a tiring season which had seen them chalk up over sixty matches and as one 'hopper standing next to me explained:  'The club had entered every cup going and paid for it.'  They still had one more game left with the Ridgeons League Cup Final# to play against Gorleston at Diss Town FC on Bank Holiday Monday. Could they lift their spirits over the next 48 hours and have something to show for their efforts?

A tidy 24 paged programme priced £1 was issued for the game. This covers all the important club news, pen pix and stats (league table, results, appearances and goal scorers) you would expect. Unusually the cover shows a picture of an old train engine which was apparently bombed on a railway line close to Soham during the war. Don't ask me why this has been chosen over a typical ground or action photo. To local historians however this must play a significant part in the life of the Cambridgeshire town. The club has a small tea bar located next to the narrow turnstile off Julius Martin Lane. A wide and varied menu offering hot and cold drinks/snacks is available for visitors.

Since my last visit to the club there is now additional cover on three sides of the ground. Improvements to the outer fencing and hard standing (behind both goals) make this a tidy venue and worthy of hosting Step 4 football. It was nice to make a re-visit especially on such an important occasion and to get back home before 5.30pm for a change. I wish the club good luck next season and hope that they can achieve even greater success. The joys of local 'hopping!      

                                                                  FGIF Rating: 5*

Notes

* Since this game Soham have since been placed in the Southern League Midland Division for 2008-2009 (along with Bury Town and AFC Sudbury).                                                                                                 # Mon 05 May 2008: Ridgeons League Cup Final - Needham Market 2 v 1 Gorleston (att. 339 at Diss Town FC).

edited on 30/05/08