Monday evening saw me over at Dagenham & Redbridge FC for the first of five Essex Alliance Football League Cup Finals and this one saw Chingford Athletic and London Falcons compete for the Fenton Cup.
Both sides are in the Premier Division although Athletic did finish twelve points and four places above their opponents in the division so they would have gone into this as slight favourites.
And it was Chingford who carved out the first opportunity in the 7th minute when a free kick whipped in saw the keeper just about save with his legs before he dived on the loose ball with the striker there for any mistakes. And then a minute later the Falcons had a great chance when getting through on goal but Harry Rouse lost his footing before he could get an effort away.
Good football from Chingford in the 17th minute saw a shot from an angle beaten away by the keeper and then a minute later a good effort from outside the box from Falcons Neil Adams took a deflection and saw the Chingford keeper tip over brilliantly.
But just past the half hour mark the Blues found a breakthrough as after the keeper dropped the ball under pressure, the loose ball was headed over the line by Will Gleeson to give Chingford the edge.
However their was almost an instant response from the Falcons as Adams saw an effort blocked then Rouse fired just over moments after before Chingford should of doubled their lead nine minutes before the break when Gary Murray headed over a terrific cross from point blank range.
There was another chance for Murray in first half stoppage time but his effort was well tipped over by the Falcons keeper and it meant the Blues still only had a slender lead at the break.
Half Time Chingford Athletic 1 London Falcons 0
Eleven minutes into the second period a dangerous ball across from Chingford along the floor saw the keeper gather well but on the hour mark came miss of the season as Chingford passed up a perfect opportunity to double their lead when after the keeper had come out and was beaten to the ball by Murray, the striker squared to Gleeson who somehow hit over the gaping goal, a truly head in hands moment!
With just over twenty minutes remaining a mistake from the Falcons defence allowed Murray an effort at goal which the keeper saved with his legs, then soon after Gleeson fired a decent effort at the keeper.
With fifteen minutes left frustrations threatened to boil over as it started to get rather silly out there as tempers frayed, but the referee took control of the situation and it soon calmed down.
Thereafter Chingford had more opportunities to seal the deal, seeing Murray hit over from point blank range after a bounce had deceived a defender, and then a cross into the six yard box was somehow smuggled away by the Falcons back line.
However it mattered not as the Blues got over the line and that Gleeson header after 31 minutes proved enough for them to take the Fenton Cup honours.
Full Time Chingford Athletic 1 London Falcons 0
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