The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Sutton St James are celebrating an impressive double in the King’s Lynn Sunday League after winning the TGWU Cup.
Having already won the Division Two title, St James saw off runners-up Flitcham Bell 3-1 in a final that was played amid incredibly windy conditions at Fakenham.
Having struggled to get a side together in the summer of 2014, it’s been an incredible debut season in the league for a side bossed by Shaun Thorpe and Tim Tomizzi.
A slow start from St James and some sloppy defending allowed Flitcham to take the lead within the opening ten minutes when Lee Goodsell slid home an effort past Martyn Burgess.
It took a while for the league champions to really get into the game and the occasion, but they levelled on the half-hour mark Ashley Godfrey was felled in the box, winning a penalty.
Jake Clitheroe converted the spot kick with low and hard drive to make it 1-1.
Godfrey then hit the post and Lee Jackson fired narrowly wide as the teams went in 1-1 at half time.
The second half was played out in extreme conditions, with strong winds now in St James’ faces. This actually seemed to suit them, though, as they were forced to play football on the deck, which has been a strong characteristic of the side all season.
They didn’t have to wait long to seize control, as two quick-fire goals after the interval made it 3-1.
The first was a composed finish from Jordan Heeley, who squeezed the ball home expertly from a narrow angle.
Within five minutes of taking the lead this was extended as man-of-the-match Alan Burch collected a through ball from Jackson before hurdling a couple of challenges and unleashing a fierce drive across the keeper.
It could get even better for St James, too. They could clinch a treble in their final game of the season on Sunday as they take on Dersingham Social in the League 2/3 cup final at Wisbech Town.
