London Colney are celebrating a league and cup double after overcoming Division Two Thame Rangers 3-0 to lift the SSML Challenge Trophy at Biggleswade United’s Second Meadow on Monday.

Herts Advertiser: London Colney's coaching staff celebrate winning the League Challenge Trophy.London Colney's coaching staff celebrate winning the League Challenge Trophy. (Image: Archant)

The end scoreline did flatter the SSML Premier Division champions slightly with Rangers, just one point from securing this season’s SSML Division Two crown, showing plenty of quality throughout the encounter.

Herts Advertiser: London Colney's coaching staff celebrate winning the League Challenge Trophy.London Colney's coaching staff celebrate winning the League Challenge Trophy. (Image: Archant)

After a cagey opening 35 minutes, Colney eventually broke the deadlock as top scorer Jon Clements supplied Spencer Clarke-Mardel to stroke home.

That was how it remained until the final five minutes of the contest as Clements buried his 41st goal of the campaign before Archie McClelland sealed more silverware for the Cotlandswick side.

It was the Oxfordshire outfit who carved out the first real chance as Dan Delderfield’s crisp fourth-minute effort was palmed away by keeper Tom Gowans with Sean Coles’ follow-up thwarted well with the goal unguarded.

Joe Sweeney’s men slowly stirred with captain Greg Shaw curling wide from 20 yards after some superb one-touch football around the Rangers area.

After some additional sparring, Colney’s nerves were finally eased nine minutes before the interval when another good move was marked by Clarke-Mardel’s neat finish into the corner of the net.

Rangers remained positive at the beginning of the second period and the impressive Kynan Isaac, formerly of Conference South Oxford City, should have brought them level when racing through on Gowans’ goal. Instead his cheeky clip sailed over both keeper and crossbar.

With the game still in the balance, the Blueboys thought they’d carved out a vital second on 80 minutes.

Clements danced his way beyond Denel Thomas, leaving the defender on the seat of his pants, before unselfishly squaring to Ashley Morrissey. But with the goal at his mercy, he dallied too long and his shot was saved.

Morrissey redeemed himself soon after, threading a terrific ball through to Clements who finished with usual aplomb to make the game safe.

Deep in added time, substitute McClelland added the third from Jeanmal Prosper’s through ball to cap an unforgettable campaign for the Blueboys.