Boss Carl Wilson declared himself “over the moon” as Tydd St Mary clinched promotion to ChromaSport Division Two with an impressive 4-1 play-off final win at Stamford Lions Reserves on Tuesday night.
The Saints flew out of the blocks early on and could have easily been 3-0 nil up after just ten minutes.
It wasn’t long before Tydd made the breakthrough though – and on 25 a goalmouth scramble saw Luke Tordoff lay the ball on a plate for top scorer Tim Lowe to hammer into the roof of the net for 1-0.
The game ebbed and flowed to half time, with the Saints having the lion’s share of the chances as they deservedly went into the break a goal to the good.
The second half could not have started any better as, straight from the kick off, Tydd attacked Stamford and scored within 47 seconds of the restart.
Man-of-the-match Jason Powley put a perfect ball in for Max Burrell to slam home for 2-0.
Alex Walton (56) pulled one back for Lions, but Andy Cook stepped up and blasted a 22-yeard free-kick past the Lions keeper for 3-1 ten minutes later.
With chances falling at both ends, Dale Parnell was unlucky not to get on the score sheet soon after.
But Parnell did have a hand in the Saints’ fourth goal as he ghosted down the left wing and pinged a perfect pass out for Scott Pemberton to lash a first-time effort into the bottom right hand corner to secure Tydd’s promotion.
Tydd could even afford to miss a Parnell penalty when the Lions keeper guessed correctly to keep the final score at 4-1.
Chuffed boss said: “Wow, what a season with a great bunch of lads. Two cup final wins against higher league opposition, a good run in the Lincs Cup and now promotion.
“It really does not get any better than that. I would like to thank everyone that has been part of this great club this season. We really are going places. Watch this space!”
The clash was originally meant to be a play-off semi-final but, due to the new PDFL constitution allowing four teams to be promoted, both of the Division Three games were straight knockout clashes – meaning there was no need for a final.
Bretton North End won the other play-off, seeing off Eye United 5-0.
- Spalding Town beat Ketton Reserves 4-3 on penalties in the PDFL Division Two play-off semi-finals after a 1-1 draw at Knight Street.
Scott Burrell had given Town a half-time lead, but they were pegged back after the break.
Town now face Peterborough Polonia in the winner-takes all play-off final at Yaxley on Saturday (2pm).
