Pitching In Isthmian Team of the Season

The 23-24 season had many, many highlights- and the four clubs we honour here provided a great number of them. For the first time, and sponsored by Shepherd Neame, we name four ‘Teams of the Season.’ [b]Premier: Horsham[/b] The Hornets have been chosen as our Premier Team of the Season after having a superb campaign. Over the course of the campaign they played a colossal SIXTY TWO matches, finishing the League campaign in fifth place and seeing their season end only after a Play Off Semi-Final shootout. They also managed to win the Sussex Senior Cup for the first time in over four decades, but of course it is their FA Cup campaign which will live longest in the memory, particularly that magnificent three-three draw at Oakwell, home of League One Play Off Semi-Finalists Barnsley (pictured). They eventually departed the competition in the Second Round, and also reached the Fourth Round of the FA Trophy. [b]North: Redbridge[/b] The Motormen returned to Step Four after seven years away, and adapted very well to their elevation with a comfortable mid table finish, but they particularly caught the eye in knock out competitions, reaching the Second Round of the FA Trophy before eventually falling to defeat in Hereford, and lifting the Essex County Cup for the first time in their history, defeating Southend United, Chelmsford City, Concord Rangers and Maldon & Tiptree to reach the Final, where they managed to lift the Trophy after taking their biggest scalp of the lot, League Two side Colchester United the latest victim. [b]South East: Sheppey United[/b] The Ites may have missed out on the top five, eventually finishing seventh, but in knock out competitions they delivered some quite breathtaking performances. Of course the highlight must be their televised FA Cup First Round tie against League Two Walsall, which despite their best efforts turned out to be the end of their Cup journey, but to reach that stage they had already defeated two sides from a higher level, Pitching In Southern Premier promotion chasers Merthyr Town defeated handsomely in Wales and our very own high-flyers Billericay Town also despatched. They also reached the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy for only the second time in their history. [b]South Central: Westfield[/b] Westfield had a superb season. Not only did they entertain- only promoted sides Chertsey Town and Marlow scored more goals- but they powered their way to the joint-highest League finish in their history, the highest points tally, and took eventually-promoted Marlow to Extra Time in their Play Off Semi-Final before finally bowing out. That Marlow found it difficult to overcome their opponents was hardly surprising, as Westfield had already defeated them three times during the season. They also took on Champions Chertsey three times and remained undefeated, knocking them out of the Velocity Cup, and took four points from third place Leatherhead as well as knocking them out of the FA Trophy. They reached the First Round of the FA Trophy for the first time in their history. [b]Many congratulations to all of our winners. [/b] [i]Follow the Pitching In Isthmian League on Instagram. Head [url=https://www.instagram.com/theisthmianleague/?hl=en]here [/url]or search for theisthmianleague on your app. We're also on [url=https://www.facebook.com/isthmianleague]Facebook [/url]and [url=https://twitter.com/IsthmianLeague]Twitter[/url].[/i]