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Monday 5 May 2014

Brettsiders Claim Title On Final Day - Hadleigh United vs. Mildenhall Town

Big crowd at Millfield
With most leagues finishing last week there was a reduced choice this weekend, but despite this there was still an incredible finish happening in The Eastern Counties League. At the start of play, any of the top five could mathematically win the league, although goal difference meant that only the top three had a realistic chance. The favourites to win the title were Hadleigh who knew that a win at home to Mildenhall Town would secure the championship. Hadleigh should have wrapped the title a long time ago but a run of six games without a win had seen their lead cut. Two wins after this run had set up the exciting finish. The Brettsiders had also had a good run in The FA Vase which had seen them get to the fifth round where they were knocked out by United Counties side Wisbech Town. Mildenhall were having an ok season and found themselves comfortably in mid table. This was the third meeting of the sides this season and Hadleigh had won the other two games four one.   

Kick off in the big game
Hadleigh almost settle the nerves in the opening minutes but the forward cannot fully connect with his shot. Hadleigh are dominating possession at the start of the game and they don't take long to make their possession count. The Hadleigh number ten is able to get to the byline and his cut back is slotted home. The Mildenhall keeper then almost gifts them a second as he spills the ball following a long effort but the centre back is there to clear the ball. Hadleigh manage to get to the byline again but this time the cross is cleared. Any attacks for Mildenhall are coming from counter attacks or from long goal kicks. Then the Mildenhall keeper then makes a great save to tip a shot from distance over the bar. As the half draws to a close, Mildenhall create their first real chances of the game. Firstly a free kick from just outside the area goes just wide. Then just before half time the forward blazes a half chance over the bar.

Hadleigh on the attacking looking for the second goal
Hadleigh look a little more edgy at the start of the second but despite this they still lay siege to the Mildenhall box. However the keeper only has to deal with a few weak efforts which he claims easily. When Hadleigh do create a better chance on the break the keeper is able to make a good save. The keeper's busy half continues as he and the Hadleigh forward come together in a heavy collision. The Hadleigh forward is knocked clean out and eventually leaves the ground in an ambulance. The resulting free kick is deflected wide and from the following corner the Mildenhall keeper is again required to make a good save. Shortly afterwards Mildenhall win a free kick in a decent position and from this free kick the Mildenhall forward has a mad rush and handles the ball in to the net. This is his second yellow and the visitors are reduced to ten men. The ten men then silence the large Millfield crowd as they equalise with a close range effort from a corner. The parity doesn't last long though as Hadleigh retake the lead with a bullet header from a cross from the left wing. Hadleigh see out the rest of the game to claim The Eastern Counties Premier Division title. 

The first Mildenhall free kick goes just wide
There is no train station in Hadleigh and you have to get a bus from Ipswich. However, saying that this bus service is unreliable is somewhat of an understatement. The first bus was nearly twenty minutes late and the return bus (also the last one) didn't show up. When the buses do run, you need the 91 bus from outside the station and the buses are every hour and take around twenty five minutes. Trains to Ipswich depart from Liverpool Street and take just over an hour. Hadleigh is a delectable market town like so many in this part of the world. Before the game I went to The Eight Bells and The Ram with the later being more of a gastro pub. The club house looked like it had recently been renovated and was doing a roaring trade before kick off. While I was waiting for my bus / taxi I went to The George which was my favourite of the three that I visited.

Another great Eastern Counties League programme
Another view of the stand

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