23rd April 2001
 

Upper Beeding 4:1 Cowfold

Upper Beeding came of age on Monday night when their twenty first
consecutive win of the season clinched the West Sussex Football League
Premier Division Title for the first time.

Manager Mick Barry and his squad can be genuinely proud of their record
which has seen them win every encounter since the 3-2 home reverse to
Rustington way back in their opening game of the season on September 9th.
2000.

A crowd over well over 100 gathered to watched in hope that Beeding would
dispose of rock bottom Cowfold and they did not have to wait long for the
Opening strike.

With just eleven minutes on the clock, Mark Salters' deep corner was headed
down by brother Gary and Steve Barber drilled in his sixth goal of the
season.

Three minutes later it was 2-0. Mark Salters' familiar ranging gallop down
the left, a low near post cross, and Stuart Barry muscled out team mate Paul
Barker to get the final touch.

Cowfold did get back into the match with a goal after nineteen minutes when
goalkeeper Scott Redferns' attempted clearance fell at the feet of a Cowfold
attacker on the edge of the Beeding box.

The rest bight was brief. Five minutes later Barry was brought down, on the
right, some thirty five yards out. Glyn Edmonds' free kick was met by Gary
Salters' flying header giving the 'keeper no chance.

David Smith had a chance to extend the lead still further but his header was
well over. Barker should have done better when set up by Lee Strange but his
shot cleared the bar from eight yards as tension seemed to creep back into
Beedings' legs.
After the break, it was one way traffic. Mark Salters' excellent forty yard
free kick was pushed onto the bar by a full stretch Cow fold custodian.

The best move of the match came just after the hour. Barker found
inspirational skipper John Burgess whose first time ball set Mark Salter on
his way. Salter slipped the ball into Barker, who prodded the ball through
to the on running Barry who was denied by the goalkeepers' legs.

Mick Barry replaced his son with Mat Doo for the last twenty minutes and
within two minutes Beeding had the security of a three goal advantage. Not
for the first time this season Mark Salter delivered a quality corner and,
as if pre arranged brother Gary rose to bury his second of the game.

The game was over, the Championship won, Champagne aflowing. An emotional
Mick Barry said afterwards " It has taken me eight years, since taking over
as manager, with the team in the lower reaches of Division Four, to achieve
this." "I am most pleased for the remaining four players from that season,
Scott Redfern, Paul Barker, Jamie Ireson and John Burgess."

Beeding:S. Redfern; J. Ireson, S. Barber, G. Salter; G. Edmonds,
P. Barker,J.Burgess (Capt), D. Smith, M.Salter; S. Barry,
L. Strange.

Subs: Doo (Barry 73")
D. Jordan (n.u.)
V. Gretton (n.u)