Newark Alliance's Rose & Crown complete back-to-back league and cup doubles after 1-0 win over White Hart
Rose & Crown have joined a limited number of Newark Alliance teams who have completed the double after beating White Hart 1-0 in the Pet Jepson Memorial Cup.
Rose player-manager Callum Barnes scored the decisive goal midway through the second half, firing across the White Hart ‘keeper Toby Rumley and into the stanchion with an unstoppable effort from just inside the box.
The cup win comes over a fortnight after Rose won the Division One title.
Barnes said: “We are absolutely buzzing to do the double.
“We knew White Hart were capable of beating us as they’d shown in our previous league match.
“We had a game plan to nullify Luke White (White Hart’s top-scorer) which worked.
“I’m buzzing for the team to do the double again.
“It is well-deserved as we have been very consistent all year.”
Rose completed the double in their last full season, prior to covid, winning the Division Two title and Keith Cartledge Memorial Cup — also a 1-0 win thanks to a fantastic strike.
The club will now move up to the Premier Division next year.
White Hart had their chances, and came closest in the first half when they fired against the crossbar.
A late Charlie Pearson red card for head-butting Liam Knott added to the tension in the final ten minutes as White Hart pushed for an equaliser, but they had little joy out of the centre-back partnership of Sam Bartle and Knott.
In the Premier Division, RHP secured the title with a 7-2 win over Collingham at the YMCA.
Adam Boddy scored a brace in the win while Thomas Ardron, Leighton Nicholson, Rafael Oliveira, Conor Scott and player-manager Christopher Self also got on the scoresheet for the champions, who still have two league games to play before receiving their trophy.
Elsewhere in the division, Three Gables Salmons earned their fourth win of the season, beating Newark Town 3-0.
Pearce Towler opened the scoring in the first half, before late goals from Matt Bryan and sub Ryan Caroll.
Jamie Bottomley scored a hat-trick as Bottesford beat Sutton 7-0 in Division Two’s only fixture.
John Proudman, Robert Walters and Alexander Kightley also found the back of the net for Bottesford in the win, which moved them up to fifth. Bottesford have two fixtures remaining.
