CROSSFLATTS Village were denied a swansong finish to their Bradford Sunday Alliance Premier Division campaign after opponents Ventus Celtic Yeadon United conceded because they couldn’t raise a side.

Village, who clinched the league title last Sunday with a hard-fought 2-1 win away at Station Hotel, were looking forward to putting on a show in front of their home fans in the final league game of the season but it wasn’t to be, but joint-manager Kevin Gill didn’t seem too despondent.

He said: “It would have been nice to finish the league season in style, but Ventus conceding could be a blessing in disguise, with two big cup finals coming up in the next two weeks.

“A few of our players are carrying knocks so it will give them time to heal and get fully fit.

"I am hoping to have a full squad to pick from for both finals as we look to win our second treble in a row.”

Quick-thinking Gill got over Ventus Celtic Yeadon United conceding their final league fixture of the season and he organised a team-building golf day for the players and fans.

He added: “I couldn’t think of a better way to spend an unexpected free Easter Sunday.

"A Wetherspoon’s breakfast, nine holes of golf at Fardew Golf Course, followed by a couple of dozen pints of lager in the sunshine with the players and fans of this fantastic football club. The team spirit we have at this club is second to none.”

Gill must now stop his squad from resting on their laurels as they are now 180 minutes and two wins away from a back-to-back trebles:

He said: “I said at the start of the season that I wanted to upgrade our treble by trading in our Championship title with the Premier Division title, and I think a few people thought I was being a bit optimistic, but I believed in this set of lads and now it’s in our hands.”

The League Cup final is first on the agenda for Gill’s players. They face Oakenshaw and Campion on Sunday, before locking horns with local rivals Sandy Lane in the Keighley FA Cup final at Silsden’s Cobbydale Construction Stadium on Sunday, May 5.

Gill said: “Oakenshaw are no mugs so we will need to be on our game on Sunday.

"The following Sunday we will face Sandy Lane who will be looking to get revenge over us after we beat them 3-0 in the Keighley FA Cup final last year.

"Our treble hopes our in our hands. We just need to show up now for the next two Sundays in the right frame of mind and give our all, and we will be OK."