Islavale clinch north junior football’s Championship title to complete league and cup double following Elginshire Cup success
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Islavale have completed a north junior football league and cup double.
The Keith side added the Championship title last night to their Elginshire Cup success from ten days earlier.
Read more: Co-manager wants double as tribute to club stalwarts.
Vale had virtually sealed the title on Saturday with a crucial 1-0 victory at home to nearest rivals Banks O’ Dee Juniors, Noel Scott’s late penalty winning the day.
That victory had taken the heat off the Simpson Park side who had a six point lead with two games to go and a far superior goal difference to Dee.
To make it mathematically secure, Islavale needed a point from Tuesday night’s league clash at Deveronside, and duly posted a 4-0 victory to wrap up the league.
Vale had already beaten Side twice in the past ten days, with a 3-0 win in the Elginshire Cup final at Maud followed by a 5-2 league success at Simpson Park a week ago.
Sam Mair finished off a Liam Henderson cross to edge the visitors ahead midway through the first half, and Noel Scott broke away ten minutes later to make it 2-0.
A Finlay Milton free kick deflected in off a Side defender after the break, and Ricky Henderson completed the scoring from the edge of the box 15 minutes from time.
Vale keeper Ryan Brindle also kept an incredible 19th clean sheet of the season.
The real celebrations will be on Saturday when vale host Banchory St Ternan in their final match of the season and will be presented with the Championship trophy.
The team, co-managed by Jim Brindle and Robert Scott, had already gained promotion to the Premier League next season.
Banks o’ Dee also go up and Longside, Lossiemouth United and Deveronside enter the play-offs along with the club that finishes third-from-bottom in the Premier.
Two semi-finals will be played over two legs with the winners meeting in a one-off game at a neutral venue.
