M4 Karting Cirencester League Div One

Siddington 3

The Beeches 2

DIVISION One leaders The Beeches booked their place in the final of the CIA Arthur Shipway Cup with Thursday's semi-final win over Poulton, so came into the league game at Siddington in great heart and needing a win to virtually guarantee the title.

Their chance seemed enhanced by absence through injury of Siddington's top scorer Dennis King – but the game did not pan out as the visitors would have liked.

James Lees, playing out of position up front for Siddington, opened the scoring for the hosts with a nicely-taken goal.

Siddington's back three played superbly, seeing off most of what The Beeches threw at them, and behind them Mark Ayres also kept the league leaders at bay.

Siddington went 2-0 up via a 35-yard free kick from James Griffin and they should have made it 3-0 just before the interval, only for John Reeves putting a penalty wide.

After the break The Beeches made Siddington pay by hauling themselves level at 2-2, both goals from Alex King, and there looked to be only one possible winner.

But Siddington absorbed all the pressure and rallied, with Sam Ayres scoring a decisive headed third goal.

Like The Beeches, Siddington have a cup final to look forward to in April, theirs being the County Cup.