Spartans South Midlands Football League

Stotfold 1-0 Leighton Town

It may have been a cold evening at New Roker Park but there was a warmth between the two standout sides in this division.

This was underlined when the home team, in a heartening display of sportsmanship and respect, gave the visitors from Leighton Buzzard a pre-match guard of honour to mark their opponents achievements.

The match then saw Brett Donnelly's Stotfold, chasing their second promotion on the bounce, edge past Spartans South Midlands Football League champions Leighton Town in a tight game, to confirm their arrival in the play-offs.

After such a stellar season in wrapping up the title, Leighton boss Lee Bircham could be forgiven for rewarding a sprinkling of talented youngsters with first team starts against Donnelly's formidable Stotfold, yet all played their part in an absorbing clash on a heavy pitch, following a torrential pre-match downpour.

The goal that separated the teams came in the 18th minute, when Stotfold No11 Aaron Hector raced through to feed Kade Bagge, who finished in style past Leighton keeper Xavier Comas Leon, to make the score 1-0.

Despite plenty of endeavour, if not end product, the scoreline remained the same, leaving Bircham's Leighton to continue their title celebrations. As for Donnelly's impressive Stotfold, they remain the team that no-one wants to face in the forthcoming play-offs.

The mutual respect between two managers was evident after the match, when Donnelly said: "Always nice to share a pint after a game with the opposition manager. His team are proven worthy winners - great feeling to come the place behind his side."

While, Bircham added: "Brett and the Stotfold boys have had a super season...good luck in the play-offs chaps."

See Nub News for our coverage of Stotfold in the Spartans South Midlands Football League Play-Offs