Crossflatts Village 4

Westwood Park 1

CROSSFLATTS Village won the top-of-the-table clash in the Bradford Sunday Alliance Premier Division at a canter thanks to goals from Lewis Morgan, Oliver Metcalfe, skipper Matty Morgan (penalty) and Brandon Hammond.

But the highlight of the game for the home fans was the 80th minute substitute appearance of evergreen Ronnie Cartwright.

The flame-haired midfield workhorse was celebrating his 50th birthday and he was given a rapturous reception by the partisan home crowd when he came on.

He has been playing for Crossflatts-based Sunday league teams for more than 20 years, these are The Royal, Crossflatts and now Crossflatts Village.

Village manager Kevin Gill also gave the veteran midfielder the captain's armband to mark the occasion, and he was full of praise for him afterwards.

Gill said: "Ronnie is a one-off.

"He's as fit now as he was when he was 20 and he would still get in most of the Sunday sides around here.

"He's an excellent club man and always puts in a good shift when he gets on the pitch.

"He was outstanding when he came on for the last 10 minutes and he still has it.

"He's the only player I know that can go out on a Saturday night, drink 12 pints of lager and still be as fresh as a daisy for 11am on Sunday morning."

There are strong rumours that this may Cartwright's last season but Gill hopes this is not the case.

He added: "I hope this isn't his last (season). He keeps the young lads on their toes and he's great to have around the squad on match days.

"I will be having a word with him in the summer to make sure this isn't his last season."

Despite Village's Cartwright's heroics from the bench, Connor Erangey was awarded the man-of-the-match award after an excellent display for the league leaders.