The Douglas United Dragons have made it a perfect season in the league with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Atherton in their final at Endeavour Park on Friday night. 

In doing so they made it twenty-two wins from twenty-two starts and finally demonstrated their complete dominance over an Atherton side that had pushed them close all throughout the season. It was a fitting way to end such a dominant season, as it had been a bit of a sore spot with the lads that they had been unable to put Atherton in their place yet this season with any sort of comprehensive performance.

The match started at a frenetic pace with Atherton jumping out of the blocks and putting the Dragons under plenty of pressure early. Luckily all they were able to muster for all their pressure was a number of corners that the Dragons were able to deal with comfortably. Slowly but surely the Dragons worked their way into the game and finally won a corner of their own. Showing Atherton how it should be done, the ball was swung in to the far post where Liam Gibson rose the highest to head home the games opening goal.

From there the Dragons made every post a winner, ruthlessly punishing Atherton now that they were on top. First Daniel Ferrero and then Tom Seaton executed top quality finishes to send the travelling Dragons fans into raptures and make the half time score 3-0. The Dragons new that the Atherton side would come out firing in the second half as they had done two weeks previous in their semi final encounter so the message was simple…keep the foot on the throat for the entire ninety minutes.

The Eagles did indeed come out firing early in the second half but the Dragons were able to weather the early storm and get back on to the front foot. Sam Neale increased the lead with a well-taken goal before Atherton were handed something to fight for when a long-range effort was cruelly deflected in off Ben Syrett. 

There was to be no miracle comeback this time around though as Luke Seaton capped an emphatic performance from the Dragons curling into the back of the net from twenty five yards via the inside of the post after some good work by Andy Warburton. It was celebration time for the Dragons now and they perhaps should have blown the score out even further in the final minutes but it was on no consequence as the final whistle blew to leave the lads to celebrate their perfect season.

The Paddy’s Bar Man of the Match went to Liam Gibson who scored the opening goal to set the Dragons on their way to victory and who defended stoutly throughout the match. The Dragons do have one more final match in this year, playing in the Crad Evans Trophy match against Burdekin from Townsville although the date of this match is being decided up due to an administration error earlier in the season. The likely date is the 10th of October with the bonus being it will be played at Cassowary Park.