Thurlow Nunn Premier Felixstowe & Walton United 2 Newmarket Town 0 A goal in each half gave the Seasiders what in the end was a comfortable victory to cement their second placed finish against Newmarket who, to their credit, fielded a full strength side ahead of their League Cup Final at Diss this afternoon.
The home side gave their supporters, who again numbered well over 300, just what they wanted against their free scoring visitors, who had netted 122 league goals, shutting them out for the second time this season to complete a league double.
Newmarket started the game on the front foot with 21-goal Jack Watson going close to firing his side head in the opening minute, but they were rocked three minutes later when the home side’s first serious attack ended with the ball nestled in the bottom corner of former Seasider Ben Nower’s net.
Callum Bennett burst into the Newmarket area to get in a shot that was initially blocked, with the ball running to Matthews who again set up Bennett, and this time there was no mistake.
Danny Crump produced a superb save to turn over Jamie Thurlbourne’s rising volley a minute later as the visitors looked for a quick response, and if there was any doubt about either side’s commitment, that was dispelled in the 10th minute as the referee produced three yellow cards to end a melee in front of the visitors’ dugout.
It was end-to-end football before the break, with both sides having off target efforts and the home side testing Nower on a couple of occasions.
The game calmed down in the second half as the Seasiders took a firmer grip on the game, and on the hour Ainsley’s free kick into the area picked out Josh Kerridge, who squared the ball for Tom Winter to side foot the ball past Nower and double the home side’s lead.
Felixstowe captain Rhys Barber lifted the runners-up shield after the game, to mark the end of the Seasiders’ best ever season in the league. Manager Kevin O’Donnell said: “We didn’t lose the league because of a couple of bad results in March, but through not killing off games earlier in the season when we were in control, and credit to Mildenhall, who saw games through when not at their best. They ended worthy champions, and we wish them well in the Ryman League!”
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