HEADLINES
SPARTANS CLOSE IN ON THE TITLESpartans 11-3 Scorpions. Whitehead Spartans are one win away from becoming 2011/2012 League Champions. They travel to Alpha next Tuesday night knowing that 3 points will be enough to give them the title for the first time ever, after coming so close in previous seasons. It was a surreal atmosphere for a while as both teams seemed a bit flat at the start considering Scorpions Home & Away Cup success the previous evening and what was as stake for the hosts. E.McDowell and E.Martin put the Spartans 2-0 up and it was soon 3 when G.Bell unluckily went in off his last ball against R.Hawkins with the black hanging over the corner bag. Spartans maybe thought they were just going to run away with it but Scorpions Captain J.Thompson had other ideas as he won frames 4 & 6. In between W.Smyth had potted a good black into the middle bag and the scores were now level at 3-3. Frame 7 was pivotal and the consistant Martin played the perfect tactical game before clearing up to edge Spartans ahead at the break by 4-3.
The reliable McDowell and Martin struck again straight after the break giving the hosts some breathing space as they went 6-3 ahead on the night. Recently crowned Carrick Individual Champion Kenny English finished precisely to put Spartans one frame away from the 3 much needed points and the outcome was finally decided in Frame 11 when Hawkins cut a black into the middle pocket. Further wins from English, McWhirter (8 ball clearance) and Hawkins finished the match off but somewhat flattered the Spartans who were definitely showing the strain in the first half.