Long Stratton's Sunday team celebrate another league and cup double
Long Stratton’s Sunday side are basking in the glory of wrapping up back-to-back doubles.
Twelve months ago Steve Race’s men followed up being crowned Norwich & District Sunday League Division Two champions with victory in the final of the Norfolk FA Wensum Print Sunday Junior Cup.
And despite playing at a higher level, they have matched that feat this time around. They were beaten just twice on their way to winning the Fine Finishes Decorator Norwich & District Sunday League Division One title, and backed it up on Sunday by lifting the Norfolk FA’s Sunday Senior Cup.
It was a particularly impressive performance by Stratton, who scored five times without reply against Premier Division champions Easton at the Harrod Sport Arena.
Boss Race said: “We won Division Two last season and the cup, which was a fantastic achievement. But to do it again at a much better standard is amazing.
“We were the underdogs on Sunday because Easton won the league above and they’d barely lost a game. It was probably our best performance of the season, which you don’t normally get in finals because of the tension and the prize at stake.
“We’ve done the double again, which is brilliant, and now we are looking forward to having a crack at the Premier Division.”
Stratton started on the front foot at the weekend and were rewarded in just the fifth minute when leading marksman James Bemrose volleyed in from a free kick.
Stratton pushed for a second goal throughout the remainder of the half and it eventually came just before the break courtesy of Spencer Cawcutt, who bundled in Ewan Chamberlain’s corner. And there was still enough time for Stratton to make it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time as Chamberlain turned from provider to scorer with a smart finish from Owen Woodhouse’s cross-field pass.
Bemrose’s second goal of the game after the restart made it 4-0, with the forward finding the back of the net from 25 yards out on this occasion.
A few minutes later the scoring was completed as Bemrose showed his creative side with a pass for Ryan Tebble to turn the ball in.
Long Stratton: Aidan way, Owen Woodhouse, Sam Fisher, Spencer Cawcutt, Sam Wanham, Chris Bartram, Sam Page, Tam Demunga, James Bemrose, Adam Race ©, Ewan Chamberlain. Subs: Ryan Tebble, Charlie Deakin, George Macrae, Jayden Worley, Shay Flatt. Attendance: 326.
* See tomorrow's Express print edition for an interview with Steve Race after he was appointed the new joint manager of Long Stratton's Anglian Combination team.
