Goalkeeper Dashun Cooper did not get the clean sheet he was hoping for, but X-Roads still clinched the First Division title yesterday at Southampton Oval with a 2-1 win over Paget.

Mark Wade, the BFA president, was there to present the trophy and congratulate the team on their most successful season since joining the league in 2004 as the X-Roads players donned “We are the Champions” T-shirts for the presentation.

“Of course I’m happy and proud of my team,” said Farid El Karka, the X-Roads coach. “The players put in a lot of work and showed a lot of character with consistency through the season from start to finish so I’m really, really proud of my players.”

X-Roads maintained their push for promotion — and the title — despite a February 5 loss at home to then unbeaten leaders Young Men’s Social Club, a result that put Social Club four points ahead of X-Roads. However, X-Roads beat them to the title, after going into yesterday’s match just needing a point to be certain of going up as champions.

Midfielder Tymon Daniels, who joined X-Roads from Dandy Town this season, gave them the lead after just six minutes before Aaron Spencer added a second in the 27th minute. Paget were reduced to ten men on the hour when Koshun Durrant was sent off for a foul on Paul Simons, having already been booked. The challenge forced Simons off the field with a knee injury.

Paget reduced the deficit in the 81st minute when Wolde Jones volleyed in a shot that went in off the underside of the crossbar. X-Roads held on to their lead and almost got a third when Spencer dribbled into the box before his shot was blocked by the Paget goalkeeper Jason Smith.

“This [season] is going to be good preparation for next season, we realise the transition is big so we have to make sure that our preseason preparation is more in depth than the previous seasons. We’re absolutely up for it, the team is mentally ready for another challenge next season.

“It is a lot of work but we will make sure we do what it takes, not only to survive but do well in the Premier Division.”

Captain Jamin Furbert, 26, is looking forward to his first season of Premier Division football next season after starting with X-Roads four seasons ago. The 3-2 loss to Social Club did not disrupt their push for a first promotion which was achieved with games to spare.

“We figured we were still in it and used that [loss] as motivation,” he said. “We came on strong after that game. We stayed consistent right to the end and made sure we did all the right things.

“This [Premier Division] is where we’re supposed to be, obviously we have a lot of work to do for next season. This is the highlight of my career. All our players gave maximum effort and together we were able to pull it off.”

Social Club closed out their campaign with a 2-1 win over Ireland Rangers at PHC Field. St George’s and St David’s continued their battle for third place with St George’s thrashing BAA 6-0 at Goose Gosling Field where Donavan Thompson and Jahron Dickinson both netted twice.

Thompson opened the scoring in the 14th minute and scored a second in the 87 while Dickinson had two second half strikes (53 and 89th minutes). Jordan Darrell and Jarazinho Bassett tallied in the 20th and 36th minutes for St George’s who showed up with only twelve players for their final match.

St David’s beat Wolves 2-1 at Police Field while Hamilton Parish won by default over Southampton Rangers who failed to show up at Wellington Oval, their second straight no-show.