A proud Lee Bircham has dedicated Bovingdon’s first Herts Senior County League title triumph to club servant Fred Benning and hailed the loyalty of his players after the increasingly inevitable was confirmed.

The dominant Green Lane side have swept almost every team before them in the Premier Division this season and Saturday’s 4-3 win at Bushey Sports Club – a 22nd victory from 23 league games –coupled with Belstone’s 1-1 draw at Standon & Puckeridge saw Bovingdon confirmed as champions with five matches to spare.

“I can’t describe how proud I am of this group of players,” delighted boss Bircham said. “We have a right mixture in that changing room from all different backgrounds and areas and I know it’s an old cliché but they have really became mates and that’s lovely to see.

“Myself, my assistant Louis Austin and chairman John Wood can’t praise them all enough. A lot of the lads have had clubs left, right and centre coming in for them and offering excellent deals but they’ve stayed. For a manager you can’t ask for more than that.

“More than anyone though, I’m delighted for our ‘Mr Bovingdon’ Fred Benning. He does everything. Without him we simply wouldn’t have a team and to a man we all love and owe him massively. This is for you, Fred.”

Bircham continued: "Fred is everything to Bovingdon. When I got the job I made sure he remained on board with us. He does everything. He’s in the dugout with the boys shouting and screaming, he’s doing the kit, he’s clearing up, he’s the 'physio', he’s the groundsman, bar man, I mean everything. I love the man to bits."

Despite their dominant league position, Bovingdon have not had it all their own way in their pursuit of the title and Saturday was no exception, particularly during a rollercoaster first half.

Having fallen behind to a fine strike in the second minute, the visitors were punished for not taking two good chances to equalise when Bushey doubled their advantage in the 19th minute.

Bircham’s side continued to waste opportunities and it needed a combination of crossbar and an excellent Jack Johnson recovery tackle to prevent the hosts from going 3-0 up.

However, Bovingdon did halve the deficit in the 36th minute when a Cameron Brooks cross was converted by Jamie Eames with a well-taken volley.

Eames was at it again four minutes later, curling in a superb effort from 25 yards, and the dramatic turnaround was to continue before the break with Courtney Massay finishing off a slick passing move.

But there was still time for Bushey to get back on terms before the interval with a memorable strike in the third minute of injury time.

The second half was not as open but what was to prove the title-clinching goal arrived in the 67th minute from midfield talisman Stefan Bailey.

Although they cannot be moved from the summit of the table, Bircham has no intention of letting his side take their foot off the pedal in their last five matches, starting with tomorrow night’s home game against the only team to beat them in the league this season, Sandridge Rovers.