CSK Wanderers sensationally wrapped up the league title with a game to spare by beating Clunge Buffet Warriors 4-1 at a snowy Waterhall Stadium. The Wanderers showed great steel to come back from behind to bag the silverware.
A cold night on a white encrusted pitch was hardly the perfect conditions for a football match but the fans turned out in their droves hoping to inspire a performance from CSK. It didn't look like their faith would pay off as The Wanderers struggled to get going in the opening stages. A lack of movement and an inability to string more than two passes together did little to help their cause, and instead invited pressure onto their defence. The Warriors settled quickly and looked to get themselves into a title winning position. They took the lead on eleven minutes, when CSK were caught high up the pitch and a counter attack set up a goalscoring opportunity, which the Warriors striker took with aplomb. CSK started creating chances, but it took them until the last kick of the first half to convert one. David Jones' pass found Lewis Turpin, who seemed to juggle the ball inside the area before a nonchalant flick looped over the keeper and into the net. It was a majestic end to an anything but majestic opening half for CSK and they were rather fortunate to be heading into the break on level terms.
A draw was enough to keep the title race in CSK's hands, but a victory would put the Premiership beyond Clunge Buffet Warriors reach. That achievement was helped on its way early in the second half, when Alex Ternouth passed to David Jones who played the ball towards Dan Jacques. The pass headed goalwards only for Jacques to audaciously dummy the firm pass completely diceiving the Warriors keeper who watched in agony as the ball found the net. The goal was awarded to Jones who ran towards Jacques pointing him out for credit as the team celebrated with their fans. David Jones was then able to return the favour, when he romped down the right wing and cut the ball back to the unmarked Dan Jacques who powerfully struck the ball home to all but seal the title. The second half performance had improved all over the pitch with the defensive trio of Lewis Turpin, Alex Ternouth, and Stuart Savidge giving very little away, and the attacking threat proving too much for the Warriors to handle. The fourth goal completed the victory late on when a good team move led to Alex Ternouth's shot being diverted into the net by David Jones scoring his fiftieth CSK goal from a yard out. 4-1 was emphatic and a perfect reflection of CSK's dominant season. The final whistle was greeted by a huge roar from the crowd and a pitch invasion of jubilation.
The back pages will undoubtedly be filled with CSK's wonderful title winning achievement, however all the talk amongst the gathered media was about the rumours of Wednesday's News Of The World's front page story. According to reports the fore-mentioned tabloid will lead with a kiss and tell story from Lebecca Roos (name may have been altered for legal reasons) who has claimed that she has been seeing both Dan Jacques and Aaron Walsh and that she is the cause of an alleged rift between the pair. The notorious kiss and tell girl also claimed that CSK were forced to hire a make up artist to cover up Dan Jacques' facial injuries after a changing room punch up between the two superstars left him with severe bruising to the eyes, nose, and mouth. Apparently Dan Jacques and Aaron Walsh both deny having ever met Lebecca Roos and both have denied that a fued exists. All the media questions directed to Manager Steve Winter after the match were about his players private lives', but the Manager was keen to talk about the football when he spoke with ESPN, "It's ridiculous that you guys want to talk about anything other than our fantastic season. We have been brilliant all season and I am so proud of the lads for ignoring you lot and playing such great entertaining football this season, they deserve the title." Pressed further on off the field matters Winter responded angrily, "The lads have told me its all (the allegations) rubbish and I believe them. Aaron was not left out of the squad because of a fued, because there simply isn't one. We have a rotation policy at this club in order to keep everyone fresh. And anyway I would never employ a make up artist for Dan, he is what you call metro-sexual anyway and could probably do his own anyway." That Ian Holloway-esque comment seemed to relax the mood of an intense interview and by the time David Jones emerged to speak with the media the focus was back on the football. Jones was pleased to be a title winner once more, "It's great to get our hands back on the trophy again. We worked hard this season and we are all delighted that we have given our fans something to celebrate again. I hope we can deliver the title again next season." Partying CSK fans now hope the players can deliver a victory next week against Unathletic Madrid to add to the inevitable carnival atmosphere at the Waterhall Stadium.
