Hartpury crack Glass to become Hellenic Premier champions in tense title decider
An inspired second half performance saw Hartpury University FC crowned Hellenic League Premier champions following a 2-0 win over Roman Glass on Wednesday, writes Sam Yapp.
Hartpury needed just a point to seal the deal, but Prifti’s close ranged strike and Kone’s delicate finish meant the Acorns secured a second successive title with a with a win at Oaklands Park.
Glass knew a win would take the title down to the final game but now have to settle for the play-offs as their route to promotion.
Glass had the opening shot of the game through former Slimbridge attacker, Jack Smith, who was played in behind but Hartpury goalkeeper, Stephen Sarkodie was out quick to smother his effort on nine minutes.
Sarkodie was quickly called into action twice again first denying Chris Lines with a low save on 13 minutes before producing a fantastic reflex stop to divert a driven Kye Simpson effort over the bar from the resulting corner.
Hartpury managed their first effort on 29 minutes when Louis Manning hit a fierce effort from distance, but a Glass head saw the shot glanced over the bar.
Glass controlled the majority of the first period and tested Sarkodie again on 35 minutes when Laurent Davis-Wilson took aim from 20-yards, but the Hartpury shot stopper was down smartly again to deny them.
And Hartpury almost broke the deadlock on the brink of half time when Luke Salter saw a driven effort from 18-yards skip inches past the post, seeing the game head into the break goalless.
Hartpury came out fighting in the second half and tested the Glass goalkeeper on 52 minutes through a Nathan Jenkins driven effort before Davis-Wilson went straight down the other end to bend an effort agonisingly past the post for Glass.
But Hartpury finally broke the deadlock on 61 minutes as Manning danced past two Glass defenders before slotting a low cross towards Prifti who rolled home all but sealing the title for Hartpury.
Salter almost doubled Hartpury’s lead on 73 minutes but his curling effort flew inches around the wrong side of the post.
That lead was doubled and the title secured in the second minute of additional time when Kone delicately lifted an effort over Joel Manning-Butler in the Glass goal after some sloppy play at the back from the host.
The newly crowned champions, Hartpury, will be back in action on Saturday as they welcome SC Inkberrow to the 4ED Hartpury Stadium for their final league game of the season.
Roman Glass: Manning-Butler (GK), Tierney, J. Williams, Lines (Courtier 37’), Mills ©, Selwood, McLennon (Crawford 63’), J. Williams, Simpson (Gilchrist 77’), Smith (Hartley 77’), Davis-Wilson
Unused subs: Antony
Hartpury University: Sarkodie (GK), Kent, Robinson, Giles, Roney ©, Jenkins, Prifti (Mackenzie 90+3’), Towns (Kang 90’), Osborn (Kone 65’), Salter, Manning (Sims 87’)
Unused subs: Kovacevic (GK)
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Stephen Sarkodie (Hartpury University)
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