Southam suffer familiar lapse in final minute

Having seen Continental Star wrap up the Athium Midland Combination title three days previously, Saints missed out on the chance to guarantee second spot in their final home match of the season, writes David Hucker.

Despite taking a two-goal lead through Tunde Ajibade and Simeon Smith, Saints had to settle for a draw, with the visitors squaring the match in the last minute of added time.

Not shutting out their opponents has cost Saints dear in the run-in but chairman Charles Hill is still optimistically looking forward to the new campaign.

“Having got so close to winning the title, it is a bitter disappointment not to gain promotion after 31 years of playing in the Midland Football Combination,” said Hill.

“Several times, we had a chance to go top and put the title to bed, but we let things slip, conceding some late goals and have only ourselves to blame.

“While the Premier Division will probably be harder to win next season, I can see no reason why, with one or two additions to the squad, we can’t go on and do it.”

The early chances fell to Saints, with hot-shot Smith heading over a Neil Stacey cross and Oli Manoochehri shooting wide.

At the other end, Jack Taylor kept the visitors at bay with a goal-line clearance before Smith failed to put another chance away, mis-hitting his shot when clear through.

Saints took the lead four minutes before the interval when Stacey headed on a long free-kick and Ajibade calmly lobbed the ball over keeper Adam Whitehouse.

They went two-up in the 59th minute when Simon Proctor flicked on and Smith got behind the defender to loft the ball over Whitehouse.

In the next Saints attack, Smith turned provider as Proctor crashed a shot against the post with Whitehouse well beaten.

As heavy rain, which had put the match in doubt the day before, returned to Banbury Road, the Saints defence fell asleep and Joe Pickering brought Brocton back into the game.

They nearly had a second when Daniel Lomas went close with a header from a corner and then keeper Jim Stott came for long ball which he completely missed, but Saints escaped.

Brocton’s leading scorer Gary Fife shot wide and was denied again by a good save from Stott before substitute Luke Church shot wide for Saints, with Stacey better placed.

Just when it looked like Saints would complete the double over Brocton, the visitors mounted one last attack, with Charlie Neale clearing off the line, only for the ball to fall to Andrew Chandler who drove it back into the net.

The race for second place could have become clearer on Wednesday night, but the match between Cadbury Athletic and Bolehall Swifts, the only team that can overtake Saints, was postponed. Now, Saints must avoid defeat against Swifts in their final fixture tomorrow to be sure of the runners-up spot.

Manager Luke Fogarty believes his side will do enough, saying: “I’m proud of all the lads for pushing Star so close for the championship. But, at the end of the day, second is nowhere and I am disappointed for the chairman and everyone who works hard behind the scenes that we didn’t go up.

“I’ve spoken to the majority of the players who are up for another go next season and, hopefully, we will put it right and win the title.”