Brockworth Albion, who won the GFA Senior Amateur Cup in a penalty shootout on Tuesday, are one of five clubs who can still win the Gloucestershire Northern League Division One title going into the final three weeks of the campaign.

It’s been a thrilling season in the 16-strong division and with just a handful of matches still to play, Chalford, Tredworth Tigers, Longlevens 4^ths and Dursley Town along with Brockworth could all finish as champions.

Brockworth, whose next game is at Charfield on Tuesday evening, are currently third with 58 points, two points behind leaders Chalford, but Brockworth have played more games than all their rivals.

They have just two games remaining – their final fixture is at home to Lydney Town Reserves on Saturday 4^th May – and their chairman David Evans admitted: “If I was a betting man I wouldn’t bet on us… but stranger things have happened.”

Indeed they have. Chalford are the new leaders after their 7-0 win at Woolaston in midweek and they have a one point advantage over closest rivals Tredworth.

Both teams have played 27 games – one fewer than Brockworth – while fourth-placed Longlevens have 57 points from 26 games and Dursley have 56 points from 27.

Longlevens were beaten 1-0 at home by Tewkesbury Town in the week and Evans continued: “My money was on Longlevens to win the league but maybe Chalford are going to win back-to-back titles.”

Whatever happens, the Northern Senior League has been the winner this season and Evans added: “It’s been a lot more competitive which makes it much more intriguing. Last season Chalford and ourselves were clear of the rest.”

Chalford host bottom-of-the-table Berkeley Town on Saturday and with the league so tight will be looking for a convincing win to improve their goal difference.

The leaders’ final game is at home to Tredworth on Monday 13^th May in what could well be a winner-takes-all title decider.

Brockworth, who are captained by Tom Willetts, will have finished their league campaign by then, of course, but wherever they finish, they’ve still had a fine season.

They won the Northern Senior League’s Reg Davis Memorial Cup back in October and this week’s County Cup success against Hanham Athletic, who play in the County League, was even more impressive.

“It was extremely fulfilling,” said 43-year-old Evans, who has played for and managed the club. “We were 2-0 down with 20 to 25 minutes to go.

“We were the better side on the night. I know they had two sent off but we had one sent off… there were a few red cards!”

Fergus Jackson and Ashley Bird got the goals that took the game into a penalty shootout, a shootout that Brockworth were leading 6-5 when goalkeeper Sean Gee made the decisive save.

Jai Maisey had scored Brockworth’s sixth penalty - they didn’t miss any - and Evans added: “All six of our penalties were really class. Our goalkeeper actually saved their fourth penalty but he was adjudged to have come off his line!”