Champions Match Preview

Tomorrow (Saturday) sees the title-winners of all four divisions of the Pitching In Southern Football League take part in the Champions Match.

Yes, clubs want to win the game to be recognised as being the best of the best, but it’s also a match to thank their fans for their support throughout a tough season.

The Premier Division Champions Match takes place at the Optima Stadium, home of Premier Division South winners Weston-super-Mare.

The Seagulls achieved 4 more points than Premier Division Central champions Tamworth, so were awarded home advantage.

Scott Bartlett’s Weston side clinched the title after the exciting win over Hendon on April 18th, while Tamworth had to wait until the final day of the regular season to win their division, thanks to a 3-0 victory at Redditch United last weekend.

Tamworth and Coalville Town were tied on 86 points going into last Saturday’s fixtures, but the Lambs possessed a better goal difference.

A comfortable win for Andy Peaks` side would have therefore guaranteed promotion, and they did just that after goals from Ty Deacon, Kyle Finn and Jamie Jellis.

With four games of the season left, Coalville were leading Tamworth by 6 points but the Lambs won all four games to pip the Leicestershire side at the post, in what was clearly a closely-fought race which also involved Leiston up until the final week.

Weston and Tamworth have met on four previous occasions and the Seagulls have won all four!

Next season the teams will be heading back to the Vanarama National League, Weston to the National League South they vacated at the end of the 2018/19 campaign, and Tamworth to the National League North, from where they were relegated the season before Weston.

The Division One Championship Match sees runaway Division One Central winners Berkhamsted take on Division One South champions AFC Totton which is being played at Premier Division South club Chesham United’s The Meadow due to maintenance work currently being undertaken at the Comrades` Broadwater ground.

This will be only the second time the teams have met – the first being on September 24th in the Isuzu FA Trophy when goals from Jordan Ragguette and Jake Adams sealed a 2-1 win at the Snows Stadium, with JJ Lacey replying for a ten-man Berko side who had Ben Walster dismissed.

Both sides finished the season on 88 points, which left Berkhamsted ahead in terms of the average points-per-game comparison used to determine which team gets to host the Champion Match.

Chris Devane’s Comrades are chasing a `treble` Comrades have already won the Southern League Central title with the Hertfordshire Senior Cup.

Jimmy Ball’s AFC Totton, as well as having the giant Division One shield on display in the boardroom, also have a date against runners-up and neighbours Sholing on May 17th in the Southampton Senior Cup final at St Mary’s Stadium.