Uppers make it Four in a Row
Upper Annandale lifted the DDAFL League Championship for the fourth season in succession and become only the fourth club to have achieved this feat. The others being Lincluden Swifts, Nithsdale and Kirkconnel. No club has managed five in a row so Uppers can make history if they can maintain their dominance for another season.
In general the league championship was a four horse race for most of the year with Uppers, Lochmaben, Lochar Thistle and Dynamo Star all harbouring hopes of success but as the season wore on it was left to Lochmaben to set a target and hope that Uppers would lose some of their games in hand. This never happened and Lochmaben were left to rue the dropped points at the start of the season.
The league was reasonably competitive and with the exception of games against the bottom teams the result of any match was never a forgone conclusion. In the end poor results led to Stewartry failing to raise a team for several fixtures in April and May and they had to withdraw from the league. Luckily this had no bearing on the title. First Base failed to win a match for the second season in a row and they have to be commended for the spirit shown especially when they were on the end of some big scorelines. Anyone watching would have applauded their efforts.
Both Dynamo Star and the YMCA showed improvement over last season but the teams had differing success. The YM played well and were never on the end of any big defeats but they just could not translate their play into enough victories. They did get through to two semi-finals but failed to progress. Star on the other hand stepped up from last season and they did manage to win some of the big games and can be pleased with their progress. Unfortunately they failed to match last season’s cup success but they did feature in a final where they lost to an in-form Lochmaben in an enjoyable final at Raydale Park.
Terregles Athletic started the season well and with a new management team on board looked to carry on the good work from the previous two seasons. Unfortunately they lost their way in the middle of the year and failed to deliver any kind of competitiveness in 2010 until their very last game. Morton Thistle also improved with some decent results throughout the season. They failed to match last seasons West of Scotland Cup heroics and once the midweek games arrived they struggled to put out a settled team and as a result their results fell away but during the middle part of the season they were as good as anyone.
Maxwelltown Thistle were the side who dropped away the most over the season. After a promising start long term injuries to key players meant that they couldn’t achieve the level they had set in the previous two seasons and worst of all defender Tommy Jardine suffered a career ending in double leg break at the beginning of May.
Lochmaben and Lochar Thistle pushed Uppers all the way and it was these three clubs who dominated the cup competitions with eleven of the twelve cup final berths being filled by the three clubs. Uppers drew first blood by lifting both the League and Nivison Cups. The League Cup at Lochar’s expense and the Nivison Cup with a win over Lochmaben. Next up it was Lochmaben’s turn to dominate and they lifted the next three trophies during what was a long and sustained purple patch. They lifted the Queen of the South Cup for the first time with a victory over Lochar at Palmerston in a classic final. They then followed this up with the British Legion Cup at Galabank, again at Lochar’s expense. Finally they made it a hattrick by defeating Dynamo Star at Raydale Park. It should be noted that all of these finals were of a very high standard. Lochar made up for their earlier defeats when they lifted the Burns Cup at the excellent Enterprise Park, this time gaining revenge against Uppers with an extra-time victory.
Striker Charles Common managed to make it a half century of goals with a double in Lochmaben’s last match of the season against Dynamo Star. In fact many of the teams were well into three figures in their goal tallies, most of the goals coming against First Base and Stewartry. Uppers had the best defence for the fourth season in succession showing a tremendous consistency over that time especially at Moffat where they rarely lose many games. Top goalscorers were Upper Annandale who pipped Lochmaben after recording a big win against an understrength First Base in the last game of the season. This was hard on Lochmaben who had several players in the running for the individual top goalscorer award.
The Player of the Year award was split between Charles Common of Lochmaben and Sandy Kennedy of Terregles Athletic, Charles for his goalscoring prowess and Sandy for his determined approach whilst playing for Terregles. Goalkeeper of the Year went to Alan Gordon of Lochar Thistle who showed a level of consistency throughout out the season. Top League Goalscorer was Neil Roddick for the second year in succession. League Personality of the Year was awarded to Upper Annandale Committee to acknowledge the work behind the scenes which has led to Uppers achieving four titles in a row.
Unfortunately none of our sides made it past the South of Scotland Cup Quarter finals. Hopefully one or more of our clubs can make a breakthrough to the semis next season.
All in all it was a very good year with some of the matches played at a very high standard especially when the parks were in their prime. It was no coincidence that the best football on show was played at Palmesrton, Galabank, Heathhall and Raydale Parks. Next year it promises to be just as tight, Uppers will be looking to make it five in a row and at least five of the other clubs have the capability to stop them and start their own run going.
The end of season awards were presented at the AGM which took place on the 13th June 2010.
Tony Pierog Award for Sportsmanship - YMCA
Uniroyal Top Goalscorers - Upper Annandale
Jack S Martin Team Conceding Fewest Goals - Upper Annandale
George Cruikshanks Player of the Year - Shared by Charles Common (Lochmaben) and Sandy kennedy (Terregles Athletic)
Jack S Martin Goalkeeper of the Year - Alan Gordon (Lochar Thistle)
William Cross Personality of the Year - Upper Annandale Committee
League Table to be inserted here....