WELLINGTON Rangers pipped Sutton United by just one point for the Hereford Times Herefordshire League Premier Division title by winning their final fixture to complete a league and cup double.

After beating Pegasus to win the Strongbow League Cup the previous week, they went into their last game knowing they needed a win at Bromyard Town Reserves - and they achieved a 3-1 victory.

Wellington started reasonably well, pushing forward for about 20 minutes but failing to take their chances.

Then the home team scored when Wellington failed to clear a corner, and the title was very much in the balance.

Fortunately for the visitors, Tom McLean equalised within minutes to settle the nerves, curling the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Play was then fairly frenetic until the break.

The management team of Richie Vale and Luke Johnston, who had announced their decision to retire from their posts at the end of the game, gave an inspired team talk and the Rangers players responded. They came out and dominated the second half, scoring twice.

The inspirational Matt Pugh put them in front with a powerful header from a corner, and then McLean fired in his second of the night.

Even the sending off of Lee Mussell failed to alter the course of the game, skipper Kenny Styles pushing his men until the final whistle.

A delighted Vale was pleased with the performance of his team throughout the season, especially as they made a very ordinary start by taking just eight points from their first six games.

He put a large slice of the credit down to a spell of 20 games in mid-season when they only dropped two points, especially as it came during a period when they had fallen behind with their fixtures.

He spared a thought for the Sutton team, who completed a magnificent run against the top sides at the end of the season, and had finished so close to taking the crown.

Two stunning goals from Zbigniew Nowicki helped Westfields secure third place when they visited Ewyas Harold in their final game and came away with a 3-2 win.

The city side made a good start, Daniel Moon hammering the ball home from the penalty spot after a home defender had kept Rob Chapman's goalbound header out with his arm.

They almost doubled their tally when Rod Haslam's header, from a Moon cross, flashed just the wrong side of a post.

After a quiet first half, Ewyas Harold found their feet in the second, scoring twice to turn the game on its head.

They equalised when Westfields defender Scott Jackson chested the ball past his own keeper, and looked favourites to steal third place when Ryan Tabb scored with a diving header minutes later.

Nowicki, the Polish striker, then scored twice to turn the match back in favour of the visitors.

Firstly, he burst through the Harold defence to fire in the equaliser, and then scored a spectacular winner to to give Westfields the league double over their hosts. He held off Robbie Gore, before chesting the ball into the air and then struck an unstoppable volley from 40 yards.

Two days earlier Harold had kept their hopes of snatching third place alive with a narrow 2-1 win over Pegasus at Old School Lane.

The villagers played good football throughout, but lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. Mark Holder featured prominently in the early stages, creating a good chance for himself and setting up another for Rob Chandler but both missed.

Lee Preece kicked off the line when Martin Kalista threatened to put the home side in front.

Harold took the lead when Mark Cooper beat Steve Bell in the home goal, with a fierce shot, and the same player almost added a second when he headed the ball against the post.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with the visitors eventually stretching their lead, Chandler showed a nice turn of pace and a cool finish when the ball was laid through by Steve Radziejowski. Pegasus pulled a goal back in the last-minute when a Paul Jenkins lob deceived keeper Matt Pitt.