Bels’ island midfielder Scott Bradford threads a through ball at the Track where Bels beat champions North 2-1. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0902503)

Bels 2, North 1
THIS is what football is about.

A passionate match played in front of a big crowd between two top-of-the-table rivals and featuring a heavy pitch, hard tackles, a couple of controversial decisions, a sending off, a bit of ‘argy-bargy’ between the coaches, a star player making his debut against his old club and a wonder goal from an exciting young prospect.

To top it all off, Bels’ win saw them go five points clear of North, even though the reigning champions have a game in hand.

‘I’m over the moon,’ said Bels boss Ian Champion afterwards.

‘I’m very proud of the whole lot and I’m not going to pick anyone out. It was always going to be a fight between the two clubs.’

Champion went on to accuse the North bench of making some unsavoury comments towards him during the match.

He claims not to have heard anything but was advised of the fact by his assistants.

‘I’m a little bit disappointed by the comments being made by the other dug out,’ he said.