Sinclair United produced arguably their best result of the season in their last division one game, brushing champions KEA aside 4-2 to inflict their first defeat of the campaign.
Despite United going 1-0 down in the early stages, the home side refused to back down and after Josh Nash hit a great strike midway through the first half to draw level, second half goals from Paul Rogers and Luke Butterworth in between Nash's second saw United upset the odds.
After a four-week break from league action, the last game against KEA always looked on paper a stern test. With a goal difference of more than +120 and conceding only 13 goals, United boss Steve Nash just wanted his side to play their normal game against their free-scoring opponents.
And it was going well for the first ten minutes, with United doing well to stop Wayne Blossom as the main vocal point for KEA's attack. But United were to be punished in the tenth minute when after failing to clear their lines, Blossom hit a shot just inside the box that flew into the corner and left Toby Jones in goal with no chance.
Some might have said the goal would have been the start of many for KEA, but to United's credit they didn't back down and were enjoying a fair share of possession themselves. With Karl Woodcock captaining the side, his calmness in front of the back four was working well and allowed Ian Timms to be the driving force of United's attacks.
And the home side should have drawn level in the 15th minute. After some unusual complacency in KEA's defence, the ball ricocheted in the box and fell kindly to Jason Pritchard on the right with the goal at his mercy. But the midfielder couldn't get his shot on target and a glilt edge chance went begging.
But United still kept going. With KEA seemingly happy to play it around the back four and Nash and Butterworth working well to press the defenders into mistakes chances for United were always going to come.
At the other end United's ever-present back four of Will Jones, Adam Timms, Luke Jarvis and Luke Whitehead were dealing with the flurry of attacks from KEA. They had to be alert to deal with the physical presence of Blossom and Toby Jones had to be on top form in goal to snuff out any attacks.
With a succession of corners, United began to grow into the game. Ben Riley and Pritchard were enjoying space down the flanks but the final ball could not quite reach the top two until Nash brought the game back into life with a superb strike in the 20th minute.
As a ball came into the box and was not cleared, Nash instinctively hit the bouncing ball first time and watched it fly into the far left corner of the net. On the balance of play it was just what United had deserved. Their impressive pressing play resulted in KEA failing to deal with the ball.
It was the same again for United at the kick off, trying to fend off KEA's attacks and deal with their dominance in possession. But KEA were to go back in front in the 30th minute, when Jones came to collect the ball in goal but following a mix-up it fell kindly to Blossom who tapped in from close range.
With the half time whistle came the belief that United could still get something out of the game. And in the second half they showed much more purpose going forward. Nash was lively throughout the game and it was his good work that led to the second goal.
After the striker was blatantly chopped down just outside the box, up stepped subsitute Paul Rogers to curl a delightful freekick over the wall and into the far corner.
Despite drawing level, United still needed to be disciplined at the back. And following a free kick of their own, Jones stopped KEA going back in front with an excellent fingertip save.
It looked like it was going to be the home side's day, as Butterworth and Nash combined to put United in front for the first time. A long ball up top saw Butterworth flick the ball on to put Nash in behind the last defender. Driving through on goal, the striker confidently struck the ball into the far corner.
KEA were always going to be a threat despite the scoreline and this time the post denied them scoring again. As they worked the ball into the far corner, Blossom hit the ball which bounced off the post and out for a goalkick.
But the game was effectively put beyond doubt in the 80th minute when from an inswinging corner by Riley, Butterworth had all the time in the world to pick his spot and head in United's fourth.
The final whistle came to the delight of Nash and his side and was the end of a great season for United, who with the victory finished division one in fourth spot.
It has been a remarkbale transformation for the side who came second bottom in the same division last year, and hopes are high that United can push on next year and perhaps go one better.
The Hanwell Arms Man of the Match Award: Adam Timms and Ian Timms
