In what proved to be a bit of a party atmosphere due to other results going their way in recent games Copland had the opportunity to see out the season against their nemesis, Sloane. Firstly it must be said that both teams came simply to play football and put on a good show for their first home “ground-hopper” fixture.

A crowd of just over a hundred witnessed an almost complete performance from Copland. Sloane needed to win this game and their last in order to have any chance of gaining promotion and whilst they had seemed to have Copland’s number in their past encounters things changed!

Following a foul on Aaron Silcott outside the box Man of the Match Robert Osborne stepped up and curled a delightful dead ball around the wall to leave the keeper stranded. One nil! Copland continued to play some delightful football moving the ball very sweetly throughout the team to leave the hard working Sloane struggling to keep up. Following yet another attacking set-piece a goal bound header from Melford Simpson was well saved by the Sloane keeper but unfortunately for him it fell to Evandro Delgado to finish with an overhead kick to the far corner, a fantastic finish!

Again Melford Simpson who in tandem with Aaron Silcott never allowed the Sloane defence and keeper a moments rest latched on to a sloppy back pass to round the keeper and make it three nil, no more than he or Copland deserved! With only a few minutes till half time Copland lost concentration and allowed a Sloane striker to cross from the right and although the Sloane Captain completely missed the ball he was saved by the left winger following up to punish the slack defending, 3-1. Seconds later the whistle went for half time.

Copland continued to dictate the majority of the play after the break although one goal for Sloane could have had a significant difference. Whilst both teams had chances of some note there were no stand out opportunities until a ball played through for Melford Simpson following some wonderful midfield interplay set the striker free. As Melford rounded the last defender and was through on goal when he was clearly taken out, free-kick. Somewhat surprisingly the referee who for the most part had a very good game decided the offence only warranted a yellow card. Would this be a let off? Not with Robert Osborne in this mood! Up he stepped and smashed his second free-kick past the despairing keeper, 4-1!

Overall an excellent way to finish off the season and although Robert Osborne was the Man of the Match special mention most go to Melford Simpson for his terrorising of the Sloane defence and also to Andre Anderson who marshalled the leagues second top goal scorer and Captain Reece Crisp expertly. Having said that no-one for Copland had anything less than a “good” game! Onwards and upwards to next season!