Toolstation NCEL Division One
Campion 1-2 Hall Road Rangers
Josh Batty celebrates scoring for Hall Road in the title clinching win at Campion. Picture: alexdanielphotos.co.uk
Josh Batty scored the goals to deliver the league title to ten man Hall Road Rangers, whose four year absence from the Premier Division ended.
Predictably there was controversy and high drama on the dramatic final day of a pulsating season which has seen the best promotion race in recent memory.
The victory took Hall Road past Emley, who are consigned to the play-offs as Pontefract Collieries won at Worsbrough Bridge to clinch second place.
The title victory also caps off a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Rangers boss Dave Ricardo, who was sacked by Selby Town last year. He has now proved himself to be the best manager in Division One, by the adding the title to the glorious success he previously enjoyed with Beverley Town.
An early goal from Crawford HR February player of the month Batty settled the nerves of the huge army of Rangers fans who travelled from Hull to Bradford.
However, they were soon jangling when Gareth Owen was sent off and Davies equalised for Campion from the resulting penalty spot.
The title-clinching goal on the half-hour even had its controversial element. One of the assistant referee flagged for offside, but the referee waved him down. Campion goalkeeper Danny Armitage put the ball down thinking it was a dead ball before Batty took control by tapping it into the empty net. Despite huge protests, the goal stood down. The viewing figures for the video highlights of this critical goal are bound to be high across the region.
The second half was tense. Campion had chances, so did Hall Road. But Rangers handled the pressure and they will line up in the NCEL top flight next season.
The Teams
Campion: Armitage, Ndlovu, Dennison, Kendall, Brown, Hall, Buchanan, Cunningham, Hey, Davies, Batty. Subs: Trennery, Coates, Bradshaw.
Hall Road Rangers: Dobson, Owens, Whittingham, Harman, Dexter, Piercy, Bennett, Cooper, Batty, Spinks, Norton. Subs: Coulson, Muirhead, Belcher, Drewery, Vernon.