Fantastic comeback secures promotion for Rubber Dubbers

23/05/2009, Division Two
AFC TROTTERS 2-3 RUBBER DUBBERS

A late winner from Callum Derek secured an impressive comeback and secured the first promotion for Rubber Dubbers since season 3.

As the season entered its final weekend, the battle for the final promotion spot from Division Two was down to two teams who were both due to play each other at Trigger Lane. The maths were simle. A win for either side would give them promotion and a draw would only be enough for Rubber Dubbers.

It was the Trotters, who knew they had to win to gain their first ever promotion, who made the more positive start and made a breakthrough after only 5 minutes. Their Polish defender Czeslaw Barcikowski had been one of their stars of the season and after the Dubbers failed to properly clear a corner, it was he who headed home a cross from Brunce Connely.

The lead was then doubled mid way through the first half when Audric Hirsch layed a free-kick off for Graham Strouts to fire home. The Trotters were well on top and were dominating possession until a Humphrey Fenby header gave the Dubbers a foot hold on the game.

Just after the hour point, a cruicoal turning point. The Trotters most influential midfielder Audric Hirsch was forced to leave the pitch injured. From that moment onwards, the Dubbers monopolised the possession and with 13 minutes remaining the crucial equaliser arrived when Thurston Dixon headed in Leighton Chamberlin's cross.

Frustration set in for the hosts and 2 minutes later they were down to 10 men when the expereinced Calle Zachrisson was dismissed for a second yellow card. Before they were able to reorganise Derek struck the winning goal after good work from his strike partner Christoph Marti.

Glory for the Rubber Dubbers, whilst for the Trotters it was a season of so near, yet so far, having also lost the final of the Norfolk Trophy to Dros Delnoch.

Teams:
AFC Trotters: Malheiro; Bonner, Barcikowski, Davis (Ainsworth 6), Giacobbo; Strouts, Inan, Hirsch (Sutton 61), Cambell; Connely, Zachrisson.
Yellow Cards: Cabell, Zachrisson.
Red Cards: Zachrisson (79)
Goal: Barcikowski (5), Strouts (24)

Rubber Dubbers: Nutley; Keller, Fenby, Dixon, Chamberlin; Jindra, Carden, Samson, Effenberger (Longton 53); Derek, Marti.
Yellow Cards: Keller, Fenby.
Goals: Fenby (37), Dixon (77), Derek (82).

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