Two goals from Ben Darwin helped see Waltham Abbey to an ESL League and Cup doubleafter victory over Hullbridge in Sunday’s Reserve Shield final, capping a wonderful seasonfor the Cappershots side.
Abbey had already taken the Reserve Division title after twenty wins from twenty two games and with only two defeats all season were obviously big favorites for this title too. However Hullbridge had ended the season well and defeated runners up Redbridge in the semi final, so the Lower Road side would be no pushovers.
The first twenty minutes or so were rather non eventful in the way of chances as both teams looked to try and settle into this big match at a sunny Southchurch Park Arena in Southend. The first real chance didn’t arrive until the 20th minute, and it fell to Abbey, as a corner found it’s way through to Danny Haigh, but he could only divert his header just over the bar.
Abbey thereafter began to take control of the contest and on 25 minutes a free kick swung into the Hullbridge box saw Haigh’s downward header well saved by Dan Blockley at the near post and then on the half hour mark good football from Abbey saw an eventual cross headed wide by Ben Darwin. The Abbey striker then saw a deflected long range effort well saved by Blockley and Abbey were now really cranking up the pressure.
Then moments later, in the 32nd minute, came the breakthrough. A bouncing ball forward into the box saw George Martin poke beyond keeper Blockley and Abbey had finally got their noses in front. It had been coming to be fair and it was to get even better for the ESL Reserve Champions as six minutes before half time as a poor header back from Sports defender Kayne Cambden saw Darwin pounce, round Blockley and slot home and give Abbey a big advantage going into the break and well on course for the double.
Half Time Waltham Abbey 2 Hullbridge Sports 0
Abbey could of extended their lead two minutes into the half, and perhaps should of done, as Ezra Folan was played through but saw Hullbridge keeper Blockley make a good save to thwart the Abbey player. Hullbridge hadn’t really threatened the Abbey goal thus far, that was until ten minutes into the second half when Ash Pibworth saw a decent header tipped wide by Abbey keeper Hugo Rossetti as they tried to find a way back into the game.
Blockley had to come to Sports rescue again just before the hour mark though, blocking a close range effort from Darwin, before Hullbridge came within a whisker of finding a route back into the contest on 73 minutes when sub Bobby Bird saw his poke at goal tipped onto the post by Rossetti.
However any faint hopes Sports had of getting back into the tie were extinguished with five minutes to go when sub Yemi Adelani burst past the full back and squared for Darwin who had the simple task to convert from close range and seal the League and Cup double for the Cappershots outfit.
Abbey had chances to add to their three goals, firstly when a poor clearance found Adelani, but he could only fire well over the bar, before another brilliant save from Blockley denied Darwin his hat trick after the strikers bullet header seemed destined to end up in the top corner. However the game was done and dusted by then and Abbey had completed the double and ended the season in style.
Full Time Waltham Abbey 3 Hullbridge Sports 0
Full Time Waltham Abbey 3 Hullbridge Sports 0
No comments:
Post a Comment