Glory for St James in 'A' team final tie (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Glory for St James in 'A' team final tie

7:00pm Saturday 16th March 2013 in Sport

ST James and Ebrington beat holders Ilmington 5-4 in the Cotswold League ‘A’ team final.

William Palmer scored all five goals for St James to gain revenge after a 1-0 defeat to their opponents earlier in the season.

Both teams comprehensively defeated Chipping Campden School on the way and this time met over two 20-minute periods.

The two goalkeepers, Oliver Thombs for St James and Joshi Gibb for Ilmington, were the best in the division.

Ilmington forced Thombs into early saves before Saints’ Palmer robbed his marker and netted against the run of play.

The Chipping Campden side could do no wrong as Josh Andreson crossed for Palmer to net again.

Seconds later, a bad defensive pass allowed Palmer to complete a quick hat-trick and David Musgrave centred for the same player to make it four late in the first period.

Three St James players were sin-binned but Ilmington could not benefit from the power-plays.

However, in a two-minute golden spell, Ilmington bagged four through Sam Pitts-Eckersall, Harry Cronshaw (2) and Joshua Angius to level.

However, Palmer swooped again with the winner from a free hit, one of only four shots Saints mustered in the second period. The ‘B’ team final featured the two teams clear at the top of the table, Shipston against St James and Ebrington.

They drew 7-7 but St James were declared champions after winning their previous encounter 1-0.

St James started well but Shipston’s first attack led to a Jacob Fairbourne goal.

Saints levelled when Archie Griffiths’ shot was deflected in and their opponents lost two players to the sin-bin.

However, Fairbourne put Shipston 2-1 ahead only for Alfie Aubrey to equalise after a poor clearance.

Goals followed to Fairbourne and Isaac Watts, both rebounds after fine saves, to make it 3-3 at the half-time interval.

Saints went ahead for the first time through Aubrey’s free hit but Fairbourne replied with a superb shot.

The same player made it 5-4 to Shipston only for Saints to reply thanks to impressive individual skill from Jamie Tolley.

Shipston regained the lead when Fairbourne’s pass was met by Jake Faulkner but Tolley set up Aubrey to lash home.

Saints mopped up pressure yet could not prevent Shipston’s Fairbourne from completing his double hattrick.

However, Saints knew they had to get one more goal which came from a Griffiths free hit.

There was no opportunity for extra-time or a penalty shoot-out so the tie-break rule was applied and St James were declared champions.