26/5/06 - Cross Keys make it a league and cup double

At a rain-soaked Victoria Park, and with only one point separating them at the start of the game, both teams were 100 per cent committed. Cross Keys again came out on top to maintain their unbeaten league record, but the 4-1 scoreline was not a true reflection of the game.

Cross Keys won the toss and kicked up the slope in the first half. The first chance fell to Oak Allstars' Lee Clueit after seven minutes with his shot just clearing the bar. Oak Allstars were having the better of the play and a long throw from Mark Davis was headed goal bound by James Dean but Craig Humphries saved well in 17th minute.

Dave Zakotti took a free-kick in the 20th minute only to see Craig Humphries again thwart Dean as the resultant header looked to be heading for the net. Minutes later Dean set up Jamie James, who beat the keeper but struck the outside of the upright.

James then broke through the home defence and it took an excellent tackle by Cross Keys' skipper Andy Fletcher combined with a brave dive at the striker's feet to prevent an almost certain goal.

With Oak Allstars on top the combination of Neil Gardiner, James Dean and Jamie James were looking dangerous. But they had a warning shot fired across their bows in the 32nd minute when, in a rare Cross Keys attack, Anthony Smith played an excellent through ball to Ed Lyons, who saw his shot beat Adam McTear but strike the foot of the post and rebound to safety.

James and Dean went close before Humphries made a great save from Darren Loader. In the closing moments of the half Cross Keys took the lead against the run of play with a contender for goal of the season. A long clearance by Craig Humphries found Rob Cullen 30 yards from the Oak goal. He looked up to see keeper McTear off his line and sent in a sublime chip which ended up in the back of the net.

Cross Keys came out for the second-half buoyed by that goal. A James Badham cross was missed by Ed Lyons and the resultant shot by Rob Cullen was well saved by McTear in the 47th minute. One minute later, it became 2-0 as Ed Lyons fired home a Jamie Abba cross.

Tim Rutherford missed a good chance to pull a goal back in the 51st minute. Then in the 53rd minute there was the pivotal moments of the game, when Cross Keys keeper Craig Humphries made a point- blank save from a David Zakotti header. Cross Keys substitute Jamie Thomas then fired in a speculative shot from fully 45 yards, which sailed over the head of the backtracking keeper and into the top corner of the net for 3-0.

Oak Allstars did pull a goal back in the 60th minute when Lee Clueit scored with a fine diving header from a Jamie Gladwin free kick. The game was virtually settled in the 68th minute when Ed Lyons saw his first shot saved but netted the rebound.

As Cross Keys players received their championship trophies they were warmly applauded by all the Oak Allstars players with their sporting manager James Seager leading with three cheers for the Keys.

In the days other games fourth-placed Morgan Aero 8 drew 4-4 with Keyz 04 with their goals coming from Dave Lawrence, Richard Bird and two from James Argent with the visitors coming from Nick Lancett, and a hat-trick from prolific scorer Andy Lancett which notched up his 50th goal for the season.

Fromes Hill drew 2-2 with Talbot Head with goals from Ross Sweetman and Jason Bourne with Talbot's goals coming from Paul Harris and Graham Martin.

Ganglands went to Oak Misfits and won 5-3 with goals from Andy Cooke and two each for Gordie Mansell and Wayne Cadmore with Misfits' goals coming from Chris Goodrum and two from Asa Smith.

Ledbury Rangers won 8-1 at Oak Academy with goals from Terry Bramley, Matt Dance, Karl Lancett, Dan Kertis an own goal and a Marc Wildig hat-trick with Academy's response from Nathan Mullins.

Belmont Keys finished on a high with a 6-2 victory at Keys Victoria with goals from Stuart Mitchell, Charlie Tabberer, Rob Jones and a hat-trick from Dave Perera with Keys Victoria's goals by Wayne Robinson and Jamie Coates.