Match report: Bush Hill Rangers 2 Welwyn GC 1

Welwyn GC completed their season with a defeat, but it seemed to scarcely matter to Adam Fisher and his double-winning side.

Boss Fisher left top scorer Joel Norris, skipper Liam Kenna and central defender Jack Dekanski out of his squad altogether for the final match – a re-arranged, much postponed fixture at Bush Hill Rangers, a place where WGC had triumphed 4-0 earlier this season on their way to winning the Division One Cup.

He also had striker Jason Caswell, midfielder Juan Cifuentes and full-back Sam Perrin as substitutes and gave four of the players who were on the bench in the Division One final a full run-out. Mason Bush, who hadn’t been in the squad that day, also played.

Keeper Joe Croft conceded a 17th minute penalty, after a dull opening, when home forward Nshindando slipped through the WGC defence and Croft brought him down.

The skipper for the evening redeemed himself by pulling off a fine save when he pushed away skipper Richmond’s spot-kick.

A minute later, Croft again preserved the status quo with a fine save with his legs from the dangerous Nshindando.

For the opening half-hour it was a case of Croft defying Bush Hill from taking the lead with a third, fine save, tipping over a close-in header from Sarpong as a home goal seemed it had to come.

It duly did 10 minutes from the break, when Lamar Cato, cousin of WGC’s Aaron, broke through, rounded two defenders and slipped the ball past Croft for a fine, solo opener.

WGC gave midfielder John Bliss a first-team debut immediately after the break, Bliss having played for the club’s reserves the previous evening.

Reggie Ross had the side’s only on-target effort up to this point, a 25-yard drive that was straight at keeper Ozyasa.

Matters improved for the visitors when Cifuentes and Caswell were introduced for the final quarter, but Bush Hill doubled their lead with eight minutes to go.

Nshindando got the better of Yashin Boodhoo to slam home a second to effectively seal the points.

Three minutes later, Caswell reduced the arrears with a fine, glancing header beyond Oyaza from Sean Brettell’s chipped free-kick and although WGC spent the closing stages laying siege to the home goal, a marvellous 2014-15 campaign ended on a losing note.

WGC: Croft, Lovell (Cifuentes 65), Costain, Boodhoo, Brettell, Cato, James (Bliss 45), Bush, Ross, Arnott (M), Arnott (C) (Caswell 73).