Gloucestershire County League

AEK Boco 0 Thornbury Town 1

FITTINGLY, captain Pete Fowler scored the goal that has given Thornbury Town the Gloucestershire County League title and promotion to the Western League.

His was the only goal of a tense match in Bristol as Thornbury secured enough points to mean that neither Tuesday night's opponents AEK Boco or third-placed Frampton United, both with games in hand on the leaders, can overtake them.

And the players celebrated in style on the final whistle by spraying the champagne on a championship-winning season that they throughly deserved.

It was not the most attractive first half from Town but they went into the break with two crucial advantages.

With just eight minutes gone, they were a goal to the good and on the road towards the title.

And it was an excellent strike as well. Thornbury earned a corner that was swung in with dangerous intent to the Boco six yard box.

As home keeper Mason Hawkins came to punch it away, skipper Pete Fowler got there first to blast the ball into the net.

Thornbury celebrated but Boco, who had the slimmest of chances to win the title themselves, made life difficult for their opponents.

The Town defence was tested a couple of times as the rain lashed down but somehow they held firm.

And Nathan Sage came to the rescue on 16 minutes when a cross from the Thornbury left was swung into the penalty area.

Boco headed towards an empty net, with Town keeper Tom Shepherd stranded by the penalty spot. It was going to be an equaliser until Sage arrived and hooked the ball clear.

On 28 minutes, Town went a man up in bizarre circumstances. Boco had won a corner and we're just about to take it when the referee blew loudly on his whistle.

Shepherd was laying on the ground and Boco's Cash Vinall was shown a straight red card.

Thornbury tried to calm things down towards the interval and kept possession but manager Andy Davies would have had a few words to say in the dressing room.

They came back out with a disciplined approach and striker Craig Lancaster and wing Luke Franklin had shots on target.

Yet Boco just would not stop causing problems. Sage was again on his defensive mettle by just getting in front of a Boco striker in front of his own net and, when the ball rebounded to the edge of the penalty area, a rasping home strike hit the Town post.

Marcus Wormwell, though, should have virtually sealed it for Town on 79 minutes when his header in front of the Boco net went wide.

By now, Town were stamping their authority on matters but needed to stay calm and organised.

And they landed their reward at the final whistle for a great season.