Thackley 0 Winterton Rangers 2

There was an end-of-season atmosphere around sun- drenched Dennyfield yesterday and neither set of players could be faulted for a three-quarter pace game.

Thackley had pulled themselves away from the danger zone in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division with three games to spare.

Winterton had the title wrapped up easily and were 13 points clear going into the last game of the campaign.

Winterton could have been forgiven for coming with a second-string team but, to their credit, they brought a strong side.

They showed the qualities that had won them the league title and cantered to a win.

Their intentions were apparent from the onset, the visitors forcing several corners in the opening ten minutes.

They took the lead from the same source in the 12th minute. Danny Clarke curled the flag kick in and Dave Ricardo bundled it in at the far post.

Thackley keeper Danny Trueman made a superb diving save to thwart Rangers' leading scorer Rob Northern midway through the half.

Thackley's only chance came from a corner forced by a good chip and run from Paul Helliwell but the same player blasted over from seven yards after the flag-kick had been delivered.

There were changes from both managers but few chances created by either side after the interval.

Rangers netted a second six minutes from time after an error by home centre back Jermaine Springer.

He had been terrific all day but stood on the ball when trying to turn away from Northern, who seized the ball and fired an angled drive past Trueman.

4:53pm Sunday 4th May 2008

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