Unbeaten champions Purton FC end their season on a perfect note (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Unbeaten champions Purton FC end their season on a perfect note

HAVING sewn up the championship the previous weekend, Purton FC maintained a fantastic, unbeaten league run with a 3-1 victory away to Ardley United on Saturday to finish their Hellenic First Division (West) season on a perfect note.

The Wiltshire side's unbeaten 34-match run equals a record set by Henley Town way back in season 1967/8 when Henley went 30 league games without a defeat, writes Alan Eastwood.

Taking into account that, at the end of the previous season, Purton had also won their last seven matches in 2002/3, they have set an unbeaten 41-match record that will surely take some beating in these modern times.

Purton manager Alan Clark and his players can surely take a lot of pride in what they have accomplished this past season, although for some of the younger element in the team their achievements will take doubtless take some time to register.

Against a good Ardley United side last Saturday, Purton took the lead after 14 minutes when Allan Webb broke clear and scored with an excellent, 18-yard shot.

Allan Webb then turned provider as his cross was headed in by Mitchell Wyatt, giving the visitors a two-goal lead on 17 minutes.

Eurshell Fearon, set up by Kenny Hughes, should have made it three but shot straight at the keeper.

Shortly after, Kenny Hawkins had a shot blocked and Wyatt just failed to connect at the far post shortly before the break.

In the second half, Ardley had more of the play early on as they strove to get back into it.

However, the Red House team's defence kept things tight, although they did concede a goal on 52 minutes when Swafford converted a cross from Ardley's left.

Tom Dingle, following a short free kick from Toby Clark, was unlucky to see his shot hit a post and Ritchie Saunders went close with a headed effort and Toby Clark went close with another effort.

On 80 minutes, Purton made it 3-1 when a ball over the top of the Ardley defence was latched on to by Mitchell Wyatt who chipped the keeper from 18 yards in fine style.

After the match, the League's general secretary, Brian King, handed Purton skipper Martin Thompson the League Shield much to the delight of the Purton faithful who had travelled to Ardley for the match.

This was Purton's second Championship winning side in the Hellenic, having captured the trophy back in 1995/96. The big question now is whether Purton will be able to test themselves next season in the Premier Division.

To a large degree, this is dependent on their local council being able to agree to floodlighting at the popular Red House ground.