THE rise of Corner Pin LG in the Chester & District Sunday League reached its peak at the weekend when they secured back-to-back titles on a dramatic final day of the Concorde Trophies Section A season.
Having pipped Saltney Ferry to the Chester Chronicle Section B championship 12 months earlier, the Corner boys repeated history on Sunday when they were crowned the top-flight champions in the most thrilling of fashions.
They won 6-1 at Dee Miller Athletic but would have finished runners-up had FC Blacon not netted an 87th-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at home to previous pacesetters Ferry.
Hat-trick hero Gareth Sudlow, James McIntosh, Lee Highfield and Tom Smith did the damage for Corner Pin, whose last-gasp success owed everything to Scott Chard’s late effort for Blacon.
A Stuart McIntosh strike and an own goal had seemingly wrapped it up for the Ferrymen, but they slipped to second on goal difference after Chard struck for the second time in the game.
Saltney Ferry must now pick themselves up for this Sunday’s Dale Recycling Solutions League Cup final at County Officers against Dee Miller (11am).
Section B winners Elton (Bill Sammut 2, Mark Dundon 2, Jason Edwards) saw their season end in defeat as they were beaten 8-5 at FC Bull & Stirrup (Danny Eaton 5, Dale Young 2, Carl Fowley).
Buoyant after their Bill Gresty Memorial Trophy success over Elton, Saltney Social Club (Phil Whittaker, Nathan Jones) sealed the third and final promotion place with a 2-0 triumph at St Theresa’s PC.
New clubs interested in joining the league for the 2011-12 season should call secretary Trevor Jones on 01244 375404 as soon as possible.
Deadline for applications is Monday, May 9.
