Kellys Poets entered the season finale versus AFC Super Saints knowing that to gain promotion all they could do was win and hope for the best. If they could do that, Infrontcat knew that his team could go up automatically, provided leaders MoonDoGs were at least held at strugglers The Hornets.
The Poets' instructions were simple, revealed Infront Cat: "Concentrate on winning your game and let fate decide the rest!" After all, Llantwitt Major Vets were also just a poet behind and ready to clear up any spills by the two teams above them.
The tonic they really needed was an early goal, and Fidel Valderrama duly obliged within four minutes, latching onto Kieron Coles flick on to hit a measured daisy-cutter from the edge of the box that zipped off the turf and kissed the inside of the left post on the way in.
Far from settling, the Poets continued to press, barely giving their opponents breathing space, Stars Captain Theakston having to resort to 'putting one' on rival Eddie Timms near the centre circle, taking a yellow card in the hope that it might stir his team to show more teeth.
However, the Poets simply gave them nothing to bite on and eventually the resistance was breached again on 27 minutes when Fanuco Manjarin whipped in a delicious centre that was gobbled up by Striker Ezra Pound who verily thumped his header past Stoica to double the lead.
The Poets did seem to relax for a brief period and the Stars seemed to come back into it, albeit without a great goal threat. However, the steadied ship was soon caught in a storm as the Poets killed the game with three goals in the last eight minutes of the half.
Firstly, on 37, Luis Cloisters sent a ball to the right channel which picked out the run of Joan Iturriaga, who wrong footed Payne before dashing to the bye-line and crossing to meet Timms' forehead at the near post, giving Stoica no chance.
The fourth then came within two minutes. With Drew Partridge breaking from the back, the defence was over-loaded and the centre-half's impressive for ray was only halted by Crane's agricultural challenge. With he ball spotted 25 yards out, Jesus-Maria Bazan was within range and the veteran defender smashed the ball home into the top left corner.
The first half rout was completed on the stroke of half-time when Iturriaga was again the supplier, this time cutting in from the right before curling a teasing ball that Manjarin merely glanced home.
In all fairness, the second half was a bit of a non-event, with the home side occasionally threatening but not really endangering the opponents' goal, much to the relief of keeper Stoica no doubt.
However, one can't help thinking they were a little distracted from the noises in the stands. The only negative was an injury to Cole who came off with 5 minutes remaining, but it was the broadcast from The Hornets Nest that was occupying most people's attentions. And shortly before the final whistle, it started to emerge that the other game had indeed ended in a 0-0 draw, meaning the Poets would be playing in Division 3 next season.
Naturally I'm delighted," said Infront. We have a nice mix of youth and experience and I've liked most of what I've seen this season, albeit we've had a few duff results along the way."
"It's certainly been the best series I've been involved in with the top three in it right to the end. I wish MoonDoGs all the best in the play-off and hope the Vets can go one better next season too. It's been a great season with a lot of evenly matched teams and the results have been totally unpredictable."
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