Title-winning Tudors beaten by Biggleswade in final game of the season

Worthy Southern League Premier Division champions Hemel Town finished the season in disappointing fashion as they lost 5-2 at Biggleswade Town, writes Luke Weston.
The Biggleswade defence thwarted Tudors hit-man Ben Mackey. Picture (c) Guy WillsThe Biggleswade defence thwarted Tudors hit-man Ben Mackey. Picture (c) Guy Wills
The Biggleswade defence thwarted Tudors hit-man Ben Mackey. Picture (c) Guy Wills

Hemel made changes for the last fixture of the season and it paid off during the opening half hour as Oliver Hawkins bagged himself a brace.

The Tudors started the first-half in confident style and were soon one goal to the good. Kyle Connolly whipped in an inviting cross from the left and Hawkins was on the end of it to flick on past ex-Hemel keeper Ian Brown.

After confidently spraying the ball around for the next 15 minutes, the visitors were rewarded with a second goal.

Hawkins wrestled with his marker to get to Daniel Talbot’s cross and, after winning the ball and trying to thread through Ben Mackey, the ball bounced back into his path and he deliciously slotted into the corner of the goal.

But the response from the Waders was good and they managed to draw level with two goals in the last five minutes of the half.

Hemel keeper Alex Tokarczyk slipped to allow Lee Reed’s effort to nestle in the bottom corner and minutes later Evan Key met Andrew Iwediuno’s cross to head in at the far post.

Hemel never got going after the interval but still could’ve found themselves ahead, with Mackey and Hawkins both denied by Brown.

And Biggleswade made the Tudors pay for the missed opportunities as they finished their first season in the division in impressive style.

Captain Brett Donnelly put his side 3-2 up with 20 minutes to go as he poked home after a scramble in the area.

The icing on the performance was achieved with two late goals as Craig Daniel ran clear to finish coolly, before Joel Mason added a fifth in added-time with a crisp finish after neat link-up play with fellow substitute Mark Coulson.

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