LITTLE Oakley boss Sean Tynan hailed his side’s exceptional form at the Memorial Ground after completing their home league programme with a dramatic 1-0 victory against rivals Harwich and Parkeston.

The Acorns have a Knockout Cup semi-final at home to Coggeshall Town tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

However, last week’s success was their last home game of the Essex and Suffolk Border League season.

And having won it in stoppage time thanks to Sam Eldridge’s last-gasp goal, it means they finished with a stunning record of winning 11 and drawing one of their 12 games.

“We’re unbeaten at home all season in the league and that’s an absolutely magnificent achievement,” said Tynan.

“It wasn’t pretty at times last weekend but we’ve learnt how to grind results out.

“The support was great again and our fans will be buzzing. We knew we had to win so it was a massive result and nice to complete the double over our rivals.

“To be fair to Harwich, they stuck at it and they’re a much better team now compared to when we played them at Christmas.

“The difference is that we’ve done it all season and they’ve done it over the last six games, but I certainly believe they’ll be a force next season.”

Oakley’s winner came deep in stoppage time, after a ball played into the area from left-back Jake Kioussis.

Harwich failed to deal with it and Eldridge reacted quickest to steer a close-range effort beyond goalkeeper Sam Felgate, who had earlier performed heroics to save a penalty from Kioussis.

At the other end, Harwich hit the bar and Oakley keeper Luke Tynan made a crucial save from a one-on-one to deny Matt Geen.

“We huffed and puffed for a while and I wasn’t sure if we were going to get the breakthrough, especially having missed two great chances early on, including the penalty,” said Tynan, who was without regular first-teamers Jamie Dobkin, Luis Reynolds and Jordan Heath.

“We dominated the first half, without creating too much more, but told the boys to keep on going, keep their shape and believe in their ability.

“Harwich came more into in the second half and they had two good chances themselves, hitting the bar and having a one-on-one.

“But in fairness to my boys, they kept on plucking away and eventually got the goal.”

Oakley, who have just one league game left, away to Hatfield Peverel on April 8, took another stride towards winning the title thanks to Saturday’s victory.

They are five points ahead of Gas Recreation, who have two matches left – away to West Bergholt on April 8 and Coggeshall Town Reserves on April 15. Meanwhile, the other Knockout Cup semi-final is between Hatfield Peverel and Wormingford Wanderers.