THE battle for the DAWFL Premier Division title went right to the wire, but in the end it’s Castle Juniors who are celebrating a maiden top flight triumph, having finished the season with three wins in 10 days scoring some 25 goals in the process.
After a 12-0 rout of Vision Athletic at the weekend, the Bangor side knew that three points in their last outing of the campaign against Comber Rec III on Tuesday night would see them draw level with North Down but finish top of the pile on goal difference.
North Down kept up their side of the bargain by defeating Comber Young Men on Saturday, however Castle went into the midweek clash some 35 goals better off than their closest challengers and just required a win of any description.
They achieved it in style, leading 4-0 with just 33 minutes gone thanks to a quickfire hat-trick from marksman Dylan Hay after Chris Carr’s 11th-minute opener. Joel Ferguson added a fifth midway through the second half and James Adair made it 6-0 five minutes later to well and truly start the party.
Hosts Comber denied Ryan Brooks a clean sheet with a goal of their own shortly after, but the last word belonged to Castle as Adam Purce capped off a man of the match display with a goal.
With both the top two recording wins last weekend, that signalled the end for reigning champions Newtownards RBL’s title chances, but they were hoping to protect their long unbeaten home record as they played their final home game of the season.
RBL started on the front foot against Corrymeela and were in the lead early through Rory Caughers, but the division’s best defence conceded shortly after when Tieranan Feeney brought Corrymeela level.
Legion took control in the last part of the first half. Colin Millar put them back into the lead and then further goals from Lewis Jueno and captain Kris Gardiner handed them a comfortable cushion. Within 15 minutes of the restart, Caughers and David Brady both found the net to make it 6-1 and Jueno went on to complete his hat-trick, with Niall O’Neill clawing one back for Corrymeela before Joel Hill rounded off the scoring for RBL’s biggest home league win of the season.
