Champs with two games to spare!

A first class performance from the young Rebels on Wednesday night saw them clinch the title with a 5-1 win over Herne Bay.

Omar Bugiel, suspended from first team football in Ryman South, netted four with Jack Barnes scoring from the spot to seal the victory at Winch's Field.

In the Ryman U21 League's North Division, Billericay Town lead rivals AFC Hornchurch by two points with five games to go. Third placed Thamesmead Town are three points adrift of the top but have played two more games than their rivals.

The Ryman U21 League expanded to 23 clubs this season after its successful launch at the start of the 2013-14 campaign by 20 pilot clubs playing in North and South divisions, Enfield Town and Maidstone United their respective inaugural champions.

Unique in the top levels of Non-League football, the league was founded to give more clubs the chance to bridge the gap between their first teams and existing youth set-ups.

* Worthing's U21s have also been celebrating emulating the cup success of the club’s first team who are preparing to take on Eastbourne Borough in the Sussex County FA Cup Final in May.

After their seniors defeated Whitehawk on penalties to book their berth earlier this month, the U21s are now looking forward to taking on the development squad at Ryman rivals Lewes in the Sussex Intermediate Cup Final on Tuesday 12 April after scoring a last-minute winner to beat Haywards Heath Reserves 2-1.

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