Cambridge Nomads celebrate promotion-winning season

Late drama earns second spot

Cambridge Nomads had a final day of the season to remember as they clinched a dramatic promotion from East Men’s League, Division 2N.

They went into their match away to Cambridge South level on points at the top of the table with Sudbury and Norwich Dragons, but in third place – and outside the two promotion places – on goal difference.

And South, who had guaranteed their position in the league in their previous match, started quicker and went ahead through Shin Kim.

But a short corner led to Nomads drawing level through Mike Longson, and then he wrong footed the keeper with a second effort to make it 2-1.

Kim was at it again before half time though, scoring for South to make it 2-2.

Richard Lloyd provided the half-time team talk for Nomads, and although it gave them the fight, it led to unnecessary cards for Felix Polonius, then Sam Walker-Farrant and Will Charlton.

Players slotted in to cover, and then with 10 minutes remaining, a slick pass from James Willington put in Alex James to give Nomads a 3-2 lead and they held on for the victory.

Sudbury defeated Cambridge University III 4-3, but as the end of season festivities started for Nomads, they received a tweet from bottom-of-the-table March Town to say they had held Norwich to a 2-2 draw.

And that cued the celebrations for Nomads as it sealed their promotion to Division One.

Cambridge South II were thwarted in their outside hope of promotion from 4NW as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Bourne Deeping III.

James Menzies twice put South ahead, but on each occasion Bourne equalised through a penalty corner.

Cambridge Nomads II finished their season in style with 6-0 win over Wisbech Town III.

Zinny Longson struck twice, one through a penalty stroke, and also set up Matthew Huchu to score, while Angus Gowland, Sugi Furuta and Tim Fieth, from the top of the D, were also on target.

Having already clinched the 5NW title, Cambridge South III finished their campaign in style with a 3-0 win over Horncastle II.

In a scrappy game with nothing at stake, South had a golden spell either side of the interval as Matt Kern, Alex Pashley and Joe Whittaker hit the target to give them a team record 50 points for the season.

And there were doubles for Mel Ragnauth, Bertie Peck and Phil Jones in Nomads III’s 6-1 home win.