Footballers crowned league champions

March 9, 2017

Bradfield were crowned ISFA Elgin Capital Southern League champions following a 3-0 victory over Royal Russell on a momentous night in London.

James‘s (D) 15th minute strike gave Bradfield the lead before second half goals from Calum (C) and Ed (G) secured a memorable win and Bradfield’s second league title in three appearances.

A last minute change of venue saw the game move from Banstead to Tooting and Mitcham FC’s KNK Stadium but this didn’t affect the players one bit as the match began at a blistering pace. Bradfield were looking to play high up the pitch in their 3-4-3 formation while Royal Russell looked to counter quickly with long balls over the top, taking advantage of Bradfield’s high defensive line.

After a chaotic opening ten minutes, Bradfield began to settle into the game with Calum and Jonathan (C) dominating the midfield ably finding pockets of space and it was the latter whose exceptional vision gave Bradfield a deserved lead.

Bradfield’s defence won possession on the halfway line and in the blink of an eye Cheung received the ball, turned his marker brilliantly and played a defence splitting through-ball for Smith who ran clear, took a touch and made no mistake, beating the keeper one-on-one with a low curled finish.

As the half wore on, Royal Russell began to create openings and nearly equalised on the stroke of half time. They won a foul 30 yards out, which their midfielder whipped in finding the head of an unmarked attacker but he was unable to keep his effort from going high and wide from about eight yards out.

That late chance acted as a wakeup call for Bradfield and it did not take long after the restart for them to double their lead. James (G) drilled a free kick in from the right which was only half cleared. The ball was allowed to bounce three times as both teams tussled for possession and after two Royal Russell players were upended, the ball landed at the feet of Calum who coolly shifted it onto his right foot before drilling a low shot across goal into the far corner with 10 minutes of the second half gone.

Just ten minutes later Bradfield put the game to bed. James went on a trademark-jinking run, beating three players and drawing the foul 20 yards out from goal. He picked himself up to take the resulting free kick and curled a wonderful effort, which beat the keeper all ends up but cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar. However, with the keeper unable to recover from his dive Ed reacted quickest in the box to side foot home Bradfield’s third and they were able to see out the remainder of the game to lift the league trophy for the second time in four seasons.

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