Talgarth Town were crowned champions of the Gwent Central League (Division 2) after an 8-0 thumping win over Usk Town Reserves on Saturday afternoon.
Usk travelled to King George V Playing Fields with an under-strength team for this title decider for the hosts.
The expectant home supporters were frustrated by the lack of urgency during early exchanges as Talgarth camped in the Usk half without working the visitors keeper.
To the relief of Mark (Tiny) Harding and his coaching team a couple of strikes in quick succession from leading goalscorer Gresh Chondnicki on 12 minutes and man of the match Ben Sharman on 15 minutes steadied the nerves.
However, Usk were looking to punish Talgarth on the counter and it was one such opportunity that so nearly brought them back into the game but for the alert Tom Bevan who raced from his goal to clear the danger with his head. After this scare Talgarth looked the more likely to score but try as they might there was no further goals before the half-time break.
A half-time substitution saw the introduction of Harry Sharman who wasted little time in opening his account on 48 minutes, before doubling his tally on 56 minutes to put the game beyond Usk- and Talgarth firmly in cruise control.
In the knowledge that the title of league champions was surely done and dusted Talgarth treated their supporters to a carnival atmosphere, playing some of their best football and scoring a further four goals courtesy of Brian Keddle-Jones on 66 minutes, Ben Sharman netting his second with a twenty-five yard strike on 78 minutes and Gresh Chondnicki completing his hat-trick with two trademark finishes on 86 and 89 minutes.
Credit to Usk Town as they stuck with it having been reduced to 10 men after losing a player to injury and then on 76 minutes their numbers were further reduced to nine with the dismissal of D Evans along with Brian Keddle-Jones reducing the hosts to 10 men for the remaining minutes.
On the final whistle the Talgarth players were able to start their celebrations and up stepped captain Matty Lloyd to receive the trophy from officials of the Gwent Cental League.
