THE excitement of Emley's season and the monotony of Town's was reflected by the gates when the teams turned out within four days of each other at Leeds Road.

Town's end-of-season Division IV engagement with Southend United attracted 2,275, just 139 more than Emley's Yorkshire League Cup final clash with Ossett Albion.

For Town, it was the penultimate match of an inconsistent season during which they had risen to fourth after a 1-0 derby win over Barnsley in mid-March only to fall away during April, when they lost five on the spin.

The draw with Southend was their third successive stalemate, and after a goalless clash at Crewe the following Saturday, John Haselden's side were to finish ninth.

Southend, who ended up a place below, took a 19th-minute lead through Derrick Parker before Peter Howey levelled after 27.

But the home player to most catch the eye was midfield schemer Kevin Johnson, who showed more talent and confidence than the rest of the team put together.

While former apprentice Howey struggled to impose himself against a solid Southend rearguard, Martin Fowler, usually a midfielder, looked wary in a trial position of sweeper.

Up front, strikers Bobby Campbell and Wayne Goldthorpe were starved of decent quality balls.

Haselden had hoped to take a look at trialist midfielder Eric Probert, the former Burnley player.

But even though both the Football League and Southend were happy, his club Notts County refused.

Probert was allowed to play for the Reserves against Wolves at Leeds Road two days later, but had little chance to shine as the second string were overrun 5-0 in the Central League clash.

Emley produced an enterprising display in their big final, but experienced Ossett proved too strong and ran out 3-1 winners.

Albion's Peter Taylor, widely regarded as the top marksman in the Yorkshire League, scored two for his team, who despite being under pressure for long spells, managed to carve out a three-goal lead before winger SB Greaves pulled one back.

Skipper Mick Pamment and fellow big men Dennis Brookes and Dave Cook all did their best to batter the Ossett defence into submission, but were unable to make a breakthrough.

While Emley's hopes were dashed, Bradley Rangers were celebrating after beating Dudley Hill 4-1 in the West Riding Challenge Cup final.

Wingmen Bob Sykes and Owen Atkinson paved the way to victory for the West Yorkshire League leaders, the former finishing the scoring after the latter had opened with a double.

Phil Whiteley grabbed Rangers' other goal.