THE Vale of Glamorgan Association Football is drawing to a close so recent weekends has seen the completion of leagues and Cup Finals.

Up first was Holton Road FC being presented with the Graham Turner Shield on Saturday 30th March after winning the Division 1 title a few weeks earlier.

In the Premier Division a win was needed for Barry Athletic FC to lift the Premiership Shield.

Thanks for a 3-1 over Island Marine FC, they were duly crowned Premier Division Champions.

The next day saw the start of the Cup Finals where Cardiff Airport FC collected the Year 11 Junior Cup with a 6-4 win over AFC Wolves.

In the Afternoon the Division 2 League Cup was up for grabs between Penarth Town FC and Vale Madrid FC. Penarth Town got into a 3-0 lead before to late goals from Vale Madrid saw pulsating closing sequence.

Fortunately, Penarth Town got a fourth and final goal to take the Dockers Cup to Penarth with a 4-2 win.

The following Sunday – 7th April 2019 – the finals continued with the Year 10 League Cup for the Steve Williams trophy between League Champions Porthkerry Panthers FC and Llantwit Major Juniors FC.

In a one-sided game, Porthkerry Panthers FC completed another League and Cup Double after a 6-0 win. In the afternoon Holton Road AFC played Cadoxton Barry FC for the Division 1 League Cup, the Supporters Cup.

Holton took the lead early and Cadoxton Barry FC struck back with an equaliser close to half time. Holton Road then got two goals in the second half to take a commanding lead.

They should have been leading by a few more goals had the goal keeper not pulled off a string of excellent saves to deny Holton Road racking up a bigger winning margin.

In the closing minutes Holton Road were reduced to 10 men and Cadoxton Barry scored a second to put the fans on their feet for the finish. Despite pushing for the leveller Cadoxton Barry ran out of time leaving Holton Road as League and Cup double winners.

Tuesday 9th April 2019 saw Sully Sports Blacks crowned Year 7 League winners and presented with the League Shield and Saturday 13th April saw Cardiff Airport FC complete a League and Cup Double with a win over Island Marine FC; which Island Marine come runners up in the League.

Before an Easter break, Sunday 14th April brought us only the one Senior Cup final; the ASRS Cup, the Premier Division Cup. AFC Rhoose come up against Island Marine FC in a close back and forth game which ended 0-0 at have time.

The game was still at a stalemate for much of the second half before a routine back pass proving to be the spark the game needed.

Island Marine playing back to the keeper saw the keeper raise his foot to stop the ball but he raised it too high and the ball carried on into the net.

Island Marine then pushed for an equaliser which was at times counter attacked by Rhoose FC.

With 12 minutes to go one counter attack saw a ball played perfectly around the keeper to give AFC Rhoose a 2-0 lead.

Again, Island Marine did not bow their heads and kept pressing to stay in the game with one attack resulting in a late challenge and a red card for AFC Rhoose but the goal just did not come.

Final Score – AFC Rhoose 2-0 Island Marine.

The Easter Break sees no games this weekend but the remaining four finals follow soon afterwards – Sunday 28th April will start with the Year 9 Cup Final for the Harry Gratton Cup between Cowbridge Town Reds and Island Marine FC – KO 10:00.

The afternoon will see the final Senior Cup of the season taking place with the Barry Cup up for grabs between Cowbridge Town FC and Penarth Town FC – KO 14:00.

After this the final of the Junior cups will take place Sunday 5th May with the Year 7 Final between Sully Sports Blacks and Cowbridge Town Reds for the Brian Riseborough Memorial Trophy – KO 10:00.

Then to round of the Final’s the Year 8 League Trophy is up for grabs with Penarth Town Raiders playing Cogan Coronation Juniors AFC vying for the Billy Butlin Trophy – KO 12:15.