TADLEY Calleva completed a superb first season in the Wessex League Premier Division with a 3-1 victory over visiting AFC Portchester on the final day of the season.
The victory over a top 10 side for the past five years at this level made sure Tadley finished an excellent eighth just a year on from being promoted from Division One
The home side opened the scoring after 31 minutes out of nothing as there seemed no danger as a defender beat Tadley's Alex Fragata to a through ball, but rather than send it back to his goalkeeper he tried to turn, was dispossessed and the winger sent the ball past the stranded goalkeeper and high in to the roof of the net.
Within five minutes it was 2-0 and this time Tadley needed no help from their opponents.
Daryl Phillips’s ball inside the full back sent Danny Vickers clear on the right, the cross was low and accurate and Fragata swept home, on the volley, his and his side’s second goal.
Fragata was quickly to the fore on the re-start but was stopped by a saving tackle by Josh Warren and Mike Turvey lobbed the goalkeeper at the other end only for the ball to finish on top of the net before Tadley nearly made it three.
Fragata appeared on the right flank and his pinpoint cross was met by a powerful header from George Hallahan that shook the crossbar.
Portchester pulled a goal back after 76 minutes as Mike Turvey reacted the quickest to turn the loose ball home.
Any thoughts of a comeback were quashed within four minutes as Tadley added goal number three.
Neller swung in a free kick from the left touchline, the keeper was fully justified in expecting someone to meet the ball but it was missed by friend and foe alike and finished inside the far post.
A delighted Tadley boss Danny Dolan said: "I still can’t believe Tadley have finished in eighth we are a small club punching well above our weight our goal at the start was to finish fourth from bottom and our future goal was to finish in the top 10 we have done this in our first season in the premier."
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