HELLENIC PREMIER DIVISION
Brimscombe & Thrupp 4
Abingdon United 0
BRIMSCOMBE’S Southern League promotion dreams are on ice after they leapfrogged title rivals Wantage Town at the top.
Sam Prior’s side finished their season on 71 points and will be crowned champions if Wantage lose at in-form Windsor on Easter Monday.
On a tropical Easter Sunday night, Brimscombe finished an outstanding campaign in rude health in front of a bumper bank holiday crowd.
The Lilywhites opened their account on six minutes – Ollie Pitt stepped on the gas to arrow a ball across the box for the predatory Sam Blackie to touch home.
Bottom of the table Abingdon suffered a numerical disadvantage after the break when Tom Butler was shown yellow and a red after hauling down livewire Ollie Pitt.
Brimscombe turned up the heat in the second-half with goals from Kyle Pitts, sub James Campbell and a 90th minute fourth from sub Jack Smith.
Earlier, Brimscombe suffered a setback on 15 minutes - Blackie pulling up to be replaced by James Campbell.
Bottom of the table Abingdon were pinned back – Jake Parrott orchestrating the midfield strings for the Lilywhites.
Abingdon, with just eight wins from 35 matches huffed and puffed as Brimscombe looked to add to their early goal.
The lively Jack Horrell spanked one over after nimble footwork from Ollie Pitt and Campbell presented the opportunity on 28 minutes.
Pitt brought the best out of Abingdon keeper Henry Woodkock who scrambled across his box to glove Pitt’s free-kick wide as the net bulged in anticipation.
Brimscombe upped the tempo – Campbell twisting inside the box to plant his hit wide of the bottom corner.
Brimscombe were knocking on the Abingdon door. Pitt’s free-kick was headed across the box by Campbell, but Major skewed wide.
The game turned on 55 minutes. Butler could count himself unlucky to be red carded for clipping Pitt. And Abingdon were immediately punished when Jack Horrell’s on the button free-kick found the leaping Pitts to nod home Brimscombe’s second.
The scampering Pitt was a whisker from making 3-0 on 65 minutes, his strike smashing the post.
Brimscombe were running riot. Campbell going close and the fleet-footed Pitt dancing his way into the box and fizzing into Henry Woodkock.
Finally, Campbell got his goal his contribution deserved – running into space and seeing his shot from the edge of the box take a deflection on the way in after 70 minutes. Campbell snatched at a chance to make it 4-0.
With 12 minutes to go veteran captain Chris Greenough was given a guard of honour by his team-mates as he left the pitch for the last time in his long and distinguished non-league career.
Pitt fluffed his lines on 80 minutes, but Smith made it four with a rasping finish inside the box.
Brimscombe: Gale; Simpson, Pitts, Deakin, Greenough, Parrott, Major, Caldwell, Blackie, Horrell, Pitt
Subs: Campbell, Smith, Pates, Pass, Jones
Attendance: 403
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