Bottom sides clash on last league night Tough A team season ends in a draw

It always looked like mission impossible for the Workmen’s A to avoid the wooden spoon in the Airdrie and District Darts League.

Lee Barber, in his first year as team leader, led a mixture of young talent and experienced players that took time to learn some lessons.

By the time the penny dropped they were too far behind the rest of the league.

However, they had a chance if they could beat The Albert Bar twice and the Workies team went into the match with the better form in recent weeks.

In the first match the A boys squandered too many chances.

With the pressure off the Berties outfit, they dropped their guard a little in the second match, knowing that they would not be bottom, and the Workmen’s A rescued a draw.

The three points for the Albert Bar meant that they leapfrogged Wilson Arms, who failed to make home advantage count against The Clansman.

While they finished in fifth spot, they are clearly better than where they finished and improved consistency will bring even more benefits.

Carsons headed for the Workmen’s club to tackle arch rivals the Workmen’s B, knowing that a draw or better would mean an unbeaten league campaign.

Carsons had vital players missing but their hosts were also without a few top performers.

All looked rosy for Carsons when they went 5-0 up.

However, it all went wrong as they failed to win another leg and handed the Workmen’s B victory and the bragging rights for that night at least.

The best game for atmosphere looked to be at The Eagle, where The Forge were visitors.

It was an even tie as The Forge gave it all they had but in the end it was not enough.

The Eagle proved a hard place to win throughout the season and The Forge can take respect for pushing the hosts all the way.

In the other match The Boar’s Head were unlucky not to take anything away from their visit to Chapelhall to play The Swan.

Although the home team won in the end, they had to pull out all the stops and The Swan won by the smallest of margins. Pts 41 38 33 31 26 25 21 16 11 9 8 4 RESULTS: Workmen’s A 5 Albert Bar 7, Albert Bar 6 Workmen’s A 6, Wilson Arms 4 The Clansman 8, Workmen’s B 7 Carsons 5, The Swan 7 The Boar’s Head 5, Bank Social Club 4 Workmen’s C 8, The Eagle 7 The Forge 5.