Kent Langridge scored with an ‘out of time’ penalty stroke to earn Winchester a thrilling 3-2 win over Fareham seconds – and, with it, the Hampshire/Surrey Regional Division 1 championship.
There could hardly have been a more dramatic finish to the Henry Cort derby.
The game was in its last play and the sides locked 2-2 when Chris Jackson arrowed a short corner towards the Fareham goal.
His drag flick hit Fareham post-man Will Day on the forehead, temporarily knocking the teenage defender out.
The resulting penalty stroke was delayed several minutes before Langridge drilled the resulting penalty stroke into the right-hand corner and sparked a player pitch invasion as Winchester celebrated their title clinching victory.
“We’re relieved,” said an exhausted Winchester skipper Kevin Boniface.
“We anticipated Fareham would give us a tough ride and that’s just what happened.
“It was a terrific game to play in and we’ve come out of it with the title, so it’s a magical moment for the club.”
Winchester only needed to win one of their last three games to clinch a return to South Premier 2 after a five-tear absence.
But the Fareham game evolved almost as if they needed to win it there and then !
Winchester were motivated and Fareham weren’t prepared to give an inch.
Winchester struck first through a Mark Maunsell penalty corner, but Fareham wasted a golden far-post opportunity to equalise midway through the half.
There was no let up after the break, with both teams looking to attack – Fareham mainly on the counter.
Fareham’s equalising goal was a tad bizarre.
Chris Davey’s low shot inches from the right-hand by-line brushed the post and got stuck behind goalkeeper Rory McCallum’s legs.
The teenage stopper had no idea where the ball had gone – but Fareham skipper Nick Knight did and ran in to poke it home for 1-1.
Emotions then started to swing wildly.
With eight minutes remaining, Winchester seemed to have sealed it when Craig Jeffery made the most of a left-slipped penalty corner and swept it past Fareham keeper Ross Kemp to make it 2-1.
The championship champagne was on ice but with only minutes remaining Chris Balcombe sent a shot corner screaming into the back boards and Fareham were back level 2-2.
Then came the drama.
A last gasp short corner, the Fareham post-man knocked out and then Langridge converting the penalty which made Winchester champions.
Relieved captain Boniface was only too pleased to buy the celebratory drinks …
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