Would it be fourth time lucky for the Jigglers? In previous season's no Jiggle side has had their last day destiny in their own hands. Tonight would be no different. Why make it easy, it's much more fun this way! Tonight at least the Jigglers would have the slight advantage of knowing exactly what needed to be done by the time they took to the pitch. A Crawley Casuals victory against Hunchenbadback would mean Jiggle needed a point against Gilly's. If Casuals got a draw a win would do it. If Hunchenbadback won, three points were a must along with an unlikely defeat for The Blues at the hands of Livingwell. Still with me? Let battle commence.

Gilly's Heroes 2 FC Jiggle 0

The Jigglers ended the season with only their second defeat of the campaign but by then the race for qualification had already been won by Hunchenbadback courtesy of their win over Crawley Casuals in the 6.30 kick-off.

The night had started in extremely encouraging fashion with Crawley Casuals 1-0 up inside ten seconds on Hunchenbadback, a goal greeted by Nick's defeaning roar in the Jiggle corner. When Casuals went 2-1 up midway through the second period optimism swept through the camp only for the glimpse of glory to be cruelly snatched away by two Hunchenbadback goals in the last five minutes. So, Hunchenbadback were through and Jiggle now needed to win and hope The Blues were beaten by Livingwell. A tall order.

It was a tall order made taller by the fact tonight's opposition Gilly's Heroes had like Jiggle, only lost once this campaign and had swept into the Finals on the back of seven wins. The Jiggle starting line-up for this final game saw David Leake return to the defence alongside Stuart MacPherson. Nick Rapley started in midfield and up front Jon Hawtin was making, if Jiggle didn't qualify, his final appearance in a Jiggle shirt after a glittering two-year career which has reaped ten goals in sixty odd appearances. Jon as will be revealed in a special look back at his career online sometime before Christmas has scored some very important goals in his time and two that would probably figure in the top six all-time list. Was there one more in the locker tonight?

The match started in competitive fashion with chances at both ends. A powerful Jon Hawtin shot was well parried by the keeper after three minutes, while Dave Leake was unable to provide the finishing touch after finding himself well in nosebleed territory soon after. Dave was in top form at the other end making two fantastic blocks as Jiggle averted the early danger.

The match was effectively settled in by a three minute spell midway through the half. First, a good Jiggle move reached Jon Hawtin who was enjoying his best performance of the season on his finale, he found room and cracked in a great shot which thudded straight back off the Gilly's woodwork. When Sam hit the post against Two Left Feet last week the opposition responded by going straight up the other end and scoring. Gilly's struck with the same trick, crafting room for the forward just outside the box to dispatch his shot into the roof of the net.

No-one was about to go down without a fight and Jiggle responded by taking the game to the opposition. Gilly's however were not the kind of opposition you want to be facing for a must-win game and they managed to soak up whatever Jiggle threw at them and create the best chances to increase their lead.

Gilly's started the second period strongly as they sought to make the game safe and secure second place. Committed defending and good goalkeeping kept the deficit at one until four minutes from time when with Jiggle pushing on in search of that equaliser a Gilly's forward got in behind the defence and slotted home the goal that settled the contest.

Jiggle continued to attack and Stuart MacPherson almost snatched the top scorer's glory with a fiercely struck shot two minutes from time that the keeper did extremely well to block. Soon after, Roy's whistle ended the match to confirm Gilly's status as runners-up in League B and they are a side that will be one of the dark-horses to watch in next week's finals. The Jigglers finish in 5th for the third time but with a record points tally and having equalled the miserly five goals conceded in the Summer Fives. Finishing four points off 4th was more a reflection of getting the rougher end of the walkover wedge, rather than being too far off the pace. It is unconfirmed but the season may have ended farcically with Gilly's v Jiggle actually being the last match played despite kicking-off at 7pm. The next four matches all 'finished' 2-0 and three at least were cert walkovers. Roy, already pissed off at the no-show artists will surely have been steaming by the time the night was out! Jiggle, having only had the one walkover actually probably got the best value for their 108 quid of any team in a very depleted division.

Prospects are very good for 2004 when a squad of seven will return for the New Year Fives starting on Friday 9th January. When you consider six days before the opening match of the season against The Blues, Jiggle could boast a squad of only four players and were unsure a team would be in attendance for that opening game it really has been a good season. Nick and Stu have been quality acquisitions to add to the signings of Sam and Andy in the summer and the signs are that a fine team spirit is beginning to be developed on and off the pitch. Only the top two have emerged victorious against the Jigglers this season and if we can improve our success rate at the other end 2004 could be one to look forward to. The New Year Fives has traditionally seen absolutely diabolical Jiggle performances so let's set about changing that. See you all on the 9th!

Team: Phil Laker, David Leake, Stuart MacPherson, Nick Rapley, Jon Hawtin. Subs. Dave Carling (for Jon Hawtin), Sam Cohen (for David Leake)

Jiggle Online Man-of-the-Match: Jon Hawtin

Player-of-the-Season: David Leake

Player-of-the-Year 2003: David Leake (past winners, 2002 - Chris Laker, 2001 - Chris Laker)