LEGENDS OF THE FALL

As one season draws to a close and another kicks off, there may be very little in the way of copper, bronze and gold to delight in, but there is still a richness and vitality about the greens - and they're undoubtedly a match for silver.

The Douglas Simmons sponsored Freds U17's finally got the closure they were after. In the last couple of weeks they have celebrated topping their league and scored a total of eight goals in a Trophy semi-final and final, conceding just two, to land an incredible double.

Wantage trailed 0-1 to Wallingford Town in the final at Marsh Lane, Oxford City, but hit back after the half-time interval.

Hitman Hall levelled the scores after converting a penalty, which seemed to expel the nervous energy. Within minutes the Freds had grabbed the tie by the neck and let loose. You could sense the relief.

Ray Rwodzi pulled back for Jonny Hall to convert from eight yards; Roan Stillion released Rwodzi who angled a low drive into the exposed keeper's bottom right; Guy Woolley reacted quickly to a spill in the box from a corner to turn the loose ball in; James Hirst, having been felled on the box edge, curled a low free-kick past a redundant stopper.

The Freds had ripped the heart out of Wallingford Town in a twenty minute spell. It was a frenzied and merciless attack, unrecognisable, after such a subdued opening forty minutes. Truly, a game of two halves.

"You know the Greeks didn't write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: Did he have passion? Passion ignites, kindles hope and burns brightly in the eyes of dreamers."

If the ancient Greeks would have put these stars up there to celebrate their undoubted fire, who are we to turn on the sprinklers. Go Freds!

Squad: Lewis Jordan, Matthew Lambe, Elliot Hayter, Harry Howard, Jacob Haines, Matthew Goodman, Roan Stillion, Guy Woolley, Ray Rwodzi, Jonny Hall, Joe George, Chris Marsh, Alex Rose, Nathan Baker, Will Beynon, James Hirst, Alex Grimes, Matthew MacDonald