Coulson hails treble winners Edgehill after title decider joy
Manager Alec Coulson has hailed Edgehill’s East Riding County League Premiership title win as their “best achievement” after his team fought back to win their winner-takes-all clash in the final game of the season.
Edgehill and Hodgsons had already secured promotion but the last fixture of the campaign would decide which team would finish top of the table.
And despite Hodgsons taking an early lead, Edgehill stormed back to win 3-1 and complete a treble-winning year, in which they also won the Senior Cup and HE Dean Cup.
A delighted Coulson said: “I’m very proud of the lads on and off the pitch. We’ve put in some proper effort over the season. People said we’d struggle getting lads to travel etc, but we’ve proved them wrong.
“Massive thanks to everyone involved; my wife Donna, Megan, assistants Wayne Aziz and Joel Ramm, Ben Dolan and all the lads.”
He added: “What’s been brilliant this season is bringing young lads into men’s football. Theo and Artie are both 16, Louis 17, Lucas Kaden, and George 18, and they’ve all contributed massively to our treble.
“We’ve won over 20 trophies in the last five years but this is our best achievement. We look forward to the challenge of next season in the Humber Premier and know it won’t be easy.”
Coulson was pleased with how his side recovered from conceding the early goal to Hodgsons and they levelled on 10 minutes, when skipper Kez Link reacted quickest from a Lewis Taylor corner to smash the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
Hodgsons continued to look for their top scorer Jack Griffin with direct balls forward, but Gaz Thomas and Jack Hakings stood firm at the back, both putting in outstanding performances.
Edgehill took the lead on 35 minutes. Kaden Evans combined brilliantly with Lewis Taylor, whose cross found George Martin at the back post and the young winger made no mistake with a composed finish.
Hodgsons had a strong penalty appeal waved away early in the second half by referee Matthew O’Brien, but Edgehill pushed for the third and Joe Gallagher caused constant problems for the Hodgsons defence, linking up brilliantly with Taylor and Ryan Link throughout the half.
With 20 minutes remaining, Edgehill extended their lead when George Martin squared across the box and teenager Theo Watson, arriving from deep, smashed an unstoppable effort into the top corner.
Hodgsons threw bodies forward late on but couldn’t break through a determined back line of Henderson, Thomas, Hakings and Louis Battye, who defended superbly to see the game out.
In an excellent team performance, Taylor and Gallagher shared the man of the match award honours.