GFC Bournemouth edged past the Yorkshire Terriers in a
dramatic final day’s play to take the Gay Football Supporters Network
league championship on a difference of just two goals.
The
rivals were level on points as they kicked off their matches at the
same time on 22 April, but Bournemouth were ahead in goal difference by
four.
The Terriers’ stunning 8-1 victory over the London Titans
at home wasn’t able to overturn the margin, as Bournemouth came out 7-3
over the Leicester Wildecats.
Yorkshire came close to taking the
title after 45 minutes, when their talented midfield’s effective
passing and command of headers allowed Ian James to help himself to no
fewer than five goals. Over in Leicester, the Wildecats had held
Bournemouth to only a 3-2 lead.
In Leeds, the Titans refused to give up and their persistence
was rewarded as Richard Nixon pulled a goal back. The Terriers seemed
to be beginning to panic in their frantic search for goals, but a shot
by Rob Graham, a free-kick by Dom Butler and a header from
player-manager Pete Farrar brought their effort to an impressive close.
Bournemouth returned with vigour after their half-time talk by vice
captain Clive Foley, quickly pushing the score to 5-2. Leicester kept
fighting with a long-range shot forcing the Bournemouth keeper to spill
the ball in front of the goal, as a Leicester striker was ready to
follow up. Bournemouth had to push through a stern Wildecats defence to
find two more goals in the game.
“With a bit of luck, the
margin could have been tighter,” said Wildecats captain Maurice
Fitzgerald. “Thankfully, there was no collapse, we still tried to
score, and to keep GFC honest.”
Results were exchanged in a
nervous telephone conversation between Bournemouth’s vice chairman Joe
Finch and Yorkshire player Ali Liaquat. Bournemouth began the season
with an ambitious declaration to the Pink Paper that they didn’t care
if it was their first season in the league, they were still out to win
it.
Eight months later, with memories of a tough loss in
Yorkshire and a battle on muddy pitches against Brighton and
Manchester, Finch said he felt they were relieved by their success.
Champagne flowed as a jubilant Bournemouth celebrated. “Our long, hard efforts had finally paid off and we were
really bringing the trophy to the south coast,” Finch said.
Yorkshire’s Liaquat said it had been a good season for the Terriers
with “loads of positive to take out of the season, both on and off the
pitch.” Still, he rued their one loss at Brighton, in which a heavy
night partying and drinking before the game had allowed the Brighton
Bandits to defeat them by three goals.
Birmingham Blaze pulled
off a shock 5-2 victory against the Bandits, though Brighton still
finished third in the league. Birmingham’s win brought them their first
points in the league all season. Manchester’s 7-2 defeat of the London
Leftfooters secured them fourth place in the table.
Source: Pink Paper
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