Steeple Morden 1 Harston 1987 0 BEN Holt s goal was enough to give Steeple Morden the BIS League Division 4A title – and promotion back to the third division at the first attempt. Steeple Morden made a solid and confident start and had the better of the

Steeple Morden 1

Harston 1987 0

BEN Holt's goal was enough to give Steeple Morden the BIS League Division 4A title - and promotion back to the third division at the first attempt.

Steeple Morden made a solid and confident start and had the better of the first-half in which they had an attempt cleared off the line following a Martin Holt corner and also hit the post through a close-range effort from Johnny Harper.

With 10 minutes of the second-half gone, Steeple Morden made the vital breakthrough.

Kieran Smith worked the ball through to Joe Morris and his hard, low cross was expertly met by the prolific Holt, who drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

With 15 minutes left, veteran goalkeeper Tim Tidey was carried-off injured and was replaced by the versatile Andy Smith.

Substitutes Andy Prentice and Ben Morris were introduced in the latter stages to help protect the lead.

In the absence of the player-of-the-year Jamie Murphy, the central midfield role was taken by Charlie Prothero, who turned in a typically determined and driving performance to earn the man-of-the-match accolade.

Manager Kenny Watters in his first season has marshalled a team the village can be proud of as they finished top scorers in the Division with 81 goals.

XMVC Dolphin 1

Banyers 3

DAVE Ratcliffe blasted a hat-trick as Banyers sealed promotion to the Halls of Cambridge Sunday League Division 3B.

A quiet first-half saw both defences on top in the early stages, and Dolphin's best chance fell to Matt Foggo from a corner.

The ball was flicked on, and he rose at the back post, only to see his header narrowly miss the corner of the post and crossbar.

Banyers were given the opportunity to take the lead, having been awarded a penalty for hand ball after some good work by Ratcliffe, but Barry Wood's effort was saved by the keeper and the follow up from Lee Wilkinson was also well saved.

The second-half was again just edged by Dolphin possession wise, but it was

Banyers who got the all important goals.

Firstly, a mix up between the defender and keeper on the right led to the ball being squirmed out to Wood, and although in an offside position he crossed the ball in for Ratcliffe to score with a diving header.

The second was set up by Wilkinson, who played the ball through Wood to send Ratcliffe clear to fire into the bottom left-hand corner.

His hat-trick goal could arguably be the goal of the season. A corner was cleared out of the box, and was flicked on by Paul to Rattcliffe on the left.

From 15 yards inside his own half he hit the ball from 70 yards, sailing over the keeper, bouncing once and into the top corner.

Dolphin grabbed a consolation, Halfacre not quite able to keep out a shot across the goal.

With Royston Saints drawing 1-1 at Fulbourn, Banyers claimed the runners-up spot.