Essex Alliance League Finals Double Header - Get Rich Together net win over FC Alpha to earn Fenton Trophy success, FC Petrocub see off Chadwell Heath Spartans to take Fenton Cup honours

 

(Chadwell Heath Spartans & FC Petrocub do battle in the Fenton Cup Final)

Essex Alliance League Finals Double Header, Saturday 23rd May

As the football seasons winds down for another year, there were plenty of finals to be had still, and I made my way over to Victoria Road, home of Dagenham & Redbridge, for two finals under the Essex Alliance League banner, and it saw the Fenton Trophy & Fenton Cup finals take place on what was a very hot day so both sets of players fitness would certainly be tested, it was hot enough watching!!!  Anyway let's see how both those finals panned out.....

Fenton Trophy Final (2pm)

FC Alpha Vs Get Rich Together

This pitted together an FC Alpha side who ply their trade in the Division One East against Get Rich Together who are in Division One West, so they are both at the same level in the EAL, and they both fourth in their respective divisions too, and FC Alpha can still finish third if they win their final league game, Get Rich Together have finished their leage campaign so fourth is were they finished.

So, a close fought contest was expected then, how did both sides reach this final, well FC Alpha got a bye into the Second Round and defeated SP United 5-3 before they then beat Iona Wheels 4-2, they then saw off London Academicals 2-0 in the Quarter Final before they defeated Chadwell Heath Spartans Reserves 3-1 in the semi finals to set up today's final showpiece.

Get Rich Together started in the First Round and saw off Old Parkonians B 2-0 before they defeated Loughton Town 5-2, they then saw off Redbridge Community 4-1 and then their Quarter Final tie against Old Parkonians A finished 4-1 to see them into the semi finals, and in that last four contest they smashed Royal Forest 7-0 to emphatically earn their spot in today's final.

So what of today's final then, well, GRT certainly created the majority of the chances in the opening half, a strong athletic outfit for sure, caused their opponents alot of issues, but their lack of finishing in the final third meant they were unable to turn their possession and quality into goals, and this meant FCA stayed in the contest, and they could easily have led at half time after spurning two great chances themselves late on in the opening forty five minutes, a warning sign to GRT that they had to be wary and had to take those chances if they were to be successful.

Things were made harder for FCA early in the second period when their skipper was sent off for a very high boot on an opponent as he tried desperately to stop him getting in on goal, and then ten minutes into the half GRT finally found the net, and it was an absolute beauty too, Mohammed Malik cutting inside before curling a beauty in off the post, and cue big celebrations amongst them all, and FCA had it all to do now with a man light as well.

GRT continued to dominate thereafter and it was no surprise when they did find a second goal to pretty much clinch this contest with about fifteen minutes remaining, Eni Akinoka bursting through before slotting beyond the keeper, and you felt that this was the killer moment in the game, and you felt GRT would go on to comfortably win the tie and the Trophy from here.

They had more chances to totally the seal the game but wasted them, and then they became sloppy and took their eye of the ball a bit, this allowed FCA to mount one last attempt to get back into the contest, and deep into stoppage they did, Lungu sweeping home from close range, and all of a sudden they had brief hope of an incredible comeback, but GRT managed to keep them at bay in the remainder of stoppage time and take their crown.

Overall GRT certainly deserved this win, they dominated for large parts and could and should have won by more, but credit must be given to FCA who certainly did not give up and managed to stay in the contest right till the end, well done to Get Rich Together, Fenton Trophy winners for 2026!!!

Full time FC Alpha 1 Get Rich Together 2

Onto game two of the day then, the Fenton Cup final, let's see what happened there.....

Fenton Cup Final (6pm)

Chadwell Heath Spartans Vs FC Petrocub

This was an all Senior Division tie, the top level of the EAL and Step Seven in the football pyramid, FC Petrocub finished runners up in the division some eighteen points behind runaway champions London Harts United, but twelve points above today's opponents Chadwell Heath Spartans who finished fifth in the division themselves, so a top five clash this was then, and another closely fought contest you would think.

How did these sides reach this final, and final that was a repeat of last seasons one, Chadwell Heath winning that on penalties so they were looking to defend this cup, well Spartans got a bye into the Second Round and defeated North East Lions 2-0 before seeing off Old Esthameians 5-1 in Round Three, they then won at Athletic Newham U23s 5-2 in the Last Eight and then saw off Waltham Forest Borough 3-0 in the semi finals.

FC Petrocub themselves began in the First Round, netting a narrow 1-0 win over Haringey Borough Reserves before they saw off Manford Way Reserves 3-1 in Round Two, their third round tie saw them thrash Motormen 6-1 before they beat Fairlop Oak 5-0 in the Quarter Finals, and they won their semi final tie against Inter Newbury 2-1 to reach todays finale once again.

The two league matches between the sides had finished 1-0 to FC Petrocub, so this final was likely to be tight, could Spartans get on the right side of the scoreline here today, well they had a great early chance to go ahead when Joshua George headed wide from close range at the far post, but after that FCP were the ones who carved out the majorty of the first half openings.

Spartans keeper Byerley was one reason why FCP didn't hold a half time lead, making some decent stops to prevent his side from going behind, and even when he was beaten, the bar came to his rescue late on in the half as Spartans were kind of holding somewhat, but they did reach the break level and had another forty five minutes to turn the momentum around and try and find a goal themselves.

The second period saw much less in the way of big chances, and you felt that despite FCP having the majority of the play, Spartans would get a chance and maybe pinch the lead, and it so nearly happened in the final twenty minutes when they created a great chance but saw Mucheri's chance thwarted by keeper Buza who had rushed off his line to block the effort, a big warning to FCP for sure.

However, there was to be a winning goal, it came in the 84th minute, and it went to FCP who deserved to have the lead in all honestly, Ghenadie Molsei firing the ball across Byerley and into the far corner, and now Spartans had very little time to find a response and prevent themselves from a third 1-0 loss against this opponent this campaign.

The best they could muster up was a Billy Gipp header but he could not find the target with it, and FC Petrocub saw out the contest and grabbed Fenton Cup honours for 2026, and gained revenge for last years penalty shootout heartbreak in this final against the same opponent, they certainly deserved their win overall, but commiserations to Spartans who lose out here today. 

Full time Chadwell Heath Spartans 0 FC Petrocub 1

Well done to Get Rich Together and FC Petrocub then, both worthy winners of their respective competitions today, commiserations to FC Alpha & Chadwell Heath Spartans who finish runners up but both will admit the better sides won on the day, a good day out and a great atmosphere created by the Moldovans who were there supporting boith FC Alpha and FC Petrocub, and over 800 attended the second game, a great achievement for sure for the league and the clubs as well.

Non League Finals Day - A goal starved day at Wembley which saw both finals settled on penalties, AFC Stoneham defeating Cockfosters to net FA Vase glory & Southend United grabbing win over Wealdstone to take FA Trophy honours

(AFC Stoneham celebrate their FA Vase win over Cockfosters in front of their fans at Wembley)

Non League Finals Day, Wembley Stadium, Sunday 17th May

It was that time of year again as the two biggest national non league competitions took centre stage for a day at Wembley as both the FA Vase & FA Trophy finals took place and four sides had not only the chance to have a day out at Wembley with their fans, they also had a chance to win a Trophy and end their seasons on a high.

First up was the lunchtime fare of the FA Vase, and this season it saw Wessex League Premier runaway champions AFC Stoneham & Spartan South Midlands Premier play off final runners up Cockfosters, let's see how that one panned out.....

Isuzu FA Vase Final

AFC Stoneham Vs Cockfosters

Eastleigh based AFC Stoneham went into this final as favourites no doubt, they had played out a wonderful season so far, winning the Wessex League Premier by fourteen points and netting 109 goals in their thirty eight games, meaning they won promotion to the next level, Cockfosters though had themselves played out a more than decent campaign, finishing fourth in the Spartan South Midlands Premier. 

This meant a play off place was earnt, but they did lose the final meaning they failed to win promotion to Step Four, Fosters though did knock out last years Vase winners Whitstable Town on route to this final, and Whitstable ran away with the SCEFL Premier this season, so Fosters would be no pushovers for AFC Stoneham you would have thought, and this is a one off final at Wembley, so it was who could hold their nerve on the day.

AFC Stoneham came into this competition in the second round proper and saw off Kidlington, Cinderford Town, Barnstaple Town, before they knocked out Haywards Heath Town on penalties, who were many people favourites for the competition, and then beat Coventry United & then Hallan 6-1 on aggregate in the semi final, Fosters though came in a few rounds before today's opponents.

It was the second round qualifying for them, and they saw off Long Melford, Tring Athletic (just, 12-11 on penalties!!!), AFC Welwyn, also on penalties, SOUL Tower Hamlets, you guessed it, on penalties, Crawley Down Gatwick, then the holders Whitstable Town on penalties as mentioned above, before seeing off Droylsden and then winning their semi final tie against Punjab United 3-1 on aggregate, so that was four shoot out wins on their way to Wembley, this side have got big balls and character clearly!!!

Would this be enough against what was clearly a very very good AFC Stoneham outfit? Well, clearly AFC Stoneham were not at their best in this final, and by half time Cockfosters would probably have been the happier of the two sides, they had pretty much nullified any threat from the South Coast side, and had probably looked the more threating of the two sides in what was probably one of the worst halves of football I've seen for a while.

Now that is no disrespect to both sides, but whether the occasion had got to them, especially AFC Stoneham, who knows, it was a huge occasion for both sides, so nerves and not wanting to make mistakes were understandable, but it was a hard watch in the first forty five minutes, the second period was slightly better, although that wasn't difficult, again Fosters created the best of whatever openings came long, including one that saw a miskick come off the bar.

However, as the second half went on, AFC Stoneham began to get more of the ball and put pressure on the Fosters side, and they had two great opportunities to win it, firstly seeing a looping header come back off the bar, and then seeing the keeper make a brilliant save to deny them in the final ten minutes, meaning this final would have to be decided on penalties kicks as they did away with extra time this year at finals day, thank goodness!!!

Penalties were no stranger to Cockfosters, this was their fifth shootout in this seasons tournament alone, but this was Wembley and a major final, so that hit's different, AFC Stoneham had only had one shootout on route but they quickly took control of it and at 4-2 Fosters needed to score to keep the shoot out going and at least make AFC Stoneham score to win it, but they blazed over meaning the Eastleigh side were Vase winners for 2026!!!

Not the best of games then, but AFC Stoneham didn't care and celebrated accordingly with their fans, Cockfosters just came up short in the end, but they did stop their opponents scoring in this one, which is a very rare thing this season, what a run it's been for them, but their has to be a winner and a loser, and today was AFC Stoneham's day!!!

Full time AFC Stoneham 0 Cockfosters 0 (AFC Stoneham won 4-2 on penalties)

Onto the second game of the day then, the FA Trophy Final, and this brought together my local side, Southend United, who were up against fellow National League outfit Wealdstone, let's see how that one fared.....

Isuzu FA Trophy Final

Southend United Vs Wealdstone

The last few years for my local side Southend United has been turbulent to say the least, at least off the field, but despite all the problems off the field the team have been superb and this was their second Wembley final in two seasons, they had qualified for the play offs last season, losing out to Oldham Athletic here at Wembley in a dramatic play off final, and although they had finished sixth this season to qualify again, they lost out in the eliminator to Scunthorpe United, meaning another season in the National League.

For Wealdstone it was a much tougher campaign on the field this season, for the majority of their National League campaign they were looking down rather than up and in a relegation battle or worry at least, I saw them play at Braintree Town a couple of months ago and had Town won that game they would have only been three points behind Stones and they were in the bottom four, but, Stones thrashed them in that game and never looked back, ending the season 15th and fourteen points above those relegation spots.

Both these sides had come into the competition at the Third Round Proper stage, The Blues had seen off Truro City, Bath City, Chatham Town & Horsham before winning at Southport in the semi final, The Stones had seen off Cheshunt, Dagenham & Redbridge, Forest Green Rovers, Kidderminster Harriers (on penalties) before they won their semi final at home to Marine, both had to battle in many of those ties to get here, so both final spots were well earned.

Now, Southend had finished twenty five points above Wealdstone in the league, however, Wealdstone had played them twice at Grosvenor Vale this season and won both times, 3-2 in the league and 1-0 in the FA Cup, Southend had won the most recent meeting, the final day of the league season, 2-1 at Roots Hall, so all three games had been close, and Stones did hold the upper hand in meetings this season, so this final was expected to be rather close and could possibly go either way, hard one to call then?

The Essex side certainly started the game well, and they were mighty close to grabbing an early lead after a good move saw them get in on goal and fire a effort across goal that looked destined for the bottom corner, but a faint touch from the keeper saw it thump off the post, but Southend continued to have the better of the early exchanges as Wealdstone were yet to settle.

Southend were backed by a huge following who were creating a good atmosphere, but Stones did actually end the first half the stronger, and only a brilliant one handed save denied them the lead late on in the half, another half where no goals were scored, the only time the ball did find the net was after the referee had blown for a foul on the Stones keeper, meaning Southend were denied, and left me sitting there wondering whether or not I was going to see a goal at all today, the game was certainly set up nicely for the second period, could someone find a winner in this one?

The second half was again very competitive as expected, but neither side could find their shooting boots once again, both sides were now attacking the ends their support was, but it could not provide a winning moment, and for the second time today it saw a goalless draw have to be settled by penalties, as just like the Vase final, this game also had no extra time, thankfully!!!

It was now the turn of Southend & Wealdstone players, management & support to go through the nerve shredding spot kicks for the prize, and it was Southend, who won the toss to take the penalties in front of their support, take control of the shootout after they scored their first two and Stones see their first two saved, it all resulted in Southend having the chance to net victory if they netted their final kick, and they duly did to win the shootout 4-2 and celebrate wildly in front of their huge support.

A great day for Southend then, but commiserations to Wealdstone who more than played their part in this one, another close game against their opponents but they ultimately fell short today, but they can be proud of their achievements this campaign overall.

It's Southend United's day though, and a much deserved one for the club after all they have been through!!!

Full time Southend United 0 Wealdstone 0 (Southend United won 4-2 on penalties)

So, that completes Non League Finals Day for another year, on the pitch it certainly wasn't one of the best that's for sure, no goals and two penalty shoot outs, but still a good day out and a good atmosphere, especially in the second game, and an overall crowd of just over 43,000 came to watch too, goal starved but a day out at Wembley and a first for some, I always enjoy these days and I look forward to next May when I can do it all again and hopefully see some goals!!!

Boreham Wood 2 Rochdale 2 (aet; Rochdale won 3-1 on penalties) - Another dramatic National League Play Off final sees Rochdale come back from two goals down to eventually see off Boreham Wood on penalties and return to EFL after three years out

Enterprise National League Play Off Final, Sunday 10th May

This has become an annual event me and my good mate Adam attend every year, grabbing an early bird deal in Club Wembley to bag a very decent seat in the blocks next to the Royal Box for only twenty quid, good value, and this year it saw Boreham Wood & Rochdale do battle to see who could grab promotion and join champions York City in the football league next season.

Boreham Wood had finished the season in fourth with ninety points and had to play a couple of games to reach this final, whereas Rochdale were seconds away from actually pipping York to the title before the Minstermen broke Rochdale's hearts by levelling in the 103rd minute of that huge title showdown at Spotlands, it's a wonder how Rochdale picked themselves up from that devastating heart break to actually win their semi final to give themselves a second shot at getting back into the football league after three years out following relegation in 2023.

The Dale amassed 106 points in the season but still failed to win the league after York managed 108 themselves, many felt it would be unfair if the runners up, who finished sixteen points above today's opponents in the table, and eleven above third placed Carlisle, would not earn their place back in the football league, but that's the rules currently, so they had to enter the lottery of the play offs if they wanted to grab that place back in the EFL.

Six teams therefore had hopes of joining York at the next level, Scunthorpe United, who finished in fifth place, defeated sixth placed Southend United in one of the eliminators, whereas Boreham Wood saw off seventh placed Forest Green Rovers in the other, setting up the semi finals that would be played at Rochdale and Carlisle United, Dale saw off Scunthorpe whilst Wood won on the road after extra time in Cumbria, setting up today's final at Wembley.

Now unlike Dale, who had a spent 102 years in the Football League until they fell out of it three years ago, Wood have never ever been there, they got very close a few years ago but lost out to Tranmere Rovers at this venue in the 2017/18 play off final, and in fact they have been down into the National League South before bouncing back, and this season they have managed to give themselves another shot at gaining promotion to the football league for the first time in their history.

No doubt most neutrals wanted Dale to get promoted though, especially after the season they had experienced, any other year they would have walked the league, but they had one more game to try and grab what they felt like a deserved promotion, but Wood on the other hand were trying to create history, so you could not begrudge them a go in the EFL as well, who could hold their nerve in this biggest of games for either side?  

Well, Boreham Wood should have been in front inside a minute, getting behind the Rochdale backline but Leon Ayinde failed to beat Dale stopper Oli Whatmuff who made a terrific stop to deny the ex Dale player, but midway through the first half Wood had the breakthrough and the lead, and it was all down to excellent play from Abdul Abdulmalik who was increasing causing problems for the Dale backline,

The tricky winger danced his way past two Rochdale defenders before firing in a ball towards Matt Rush, and the striker managed to divert the ball off his chest and loop into the far corner of the net, and Adbulmalik almost made it 2-0 himself but saw a lovely curling effort superbly tipped over by Whatmuff who was keeping his side in the contest, Rochdale did have a couple of openings themselves but were largely on the back foot.

Wood passed up more opportunities after the restart and you felt they may come back to rue these missed chances as you felt Dale had to have a decent spell at some point as they had been rather poor so far in this contest, but when Wood did find that second goal in the 69th minute, the superb Abdulmalik finding the bottom corner after cutting inside onto his right foot and seeing his effort deflect beyond Whatmuff, you felt Wood had done enough to win this game and take a histortic promotion.

It was going to take something special for them to be denied now, Rochdale had offered very little and the Wood backline had stood firm with anything thrown at them, but, with 78 minutes on the clock, Dale gave themselves a life line, a long clearence from keeper Whatmuff saw a defender slip, allowing substitute Tyler Smith to get in and fire home, game on, and Dale had around fifteen minutes or so to find a leveller.

These National League Play Off finals are always dramatic, and this one was to be no different, six minutes were to be added on, and with about ten seconds of those remaining, Dale found a last gasp leveller to deny Wood promotion for now and send the game into extra time, Casey Pettit's ball in found Mani Dieseruvwe whose header went in off a defender and gave keeper Ted Curd no chance, and sent the Dale fans behind that goal wild, their them were beaten but had somehow pulled themselves back from nowhere to send this to extra time.

Wood were crushed, but they had to somehow get themselves up for an extra half hour and possibly penalties but you felt Dale had the momentum now, but in an extra time period that didn't really have the same drama as the second period, Wood were the ones who were pushing for a winner, but they could not muster one, and the game would go to spot kicks to determine who would join York City in the EFL.

Well, Whatmuff, who had been excellent in the game itself and had kept his side in the contest at times, was the hero in the shootout, he first of all saved Callum Reynolds effort in the first penalty of the shoot out, and then made a superb one handed stop to deny Rush, and at 3-1 to Dale, Wood needed to score to keep the shoot out going but saw Cameron Coxe hit the bar and Dale had somehow won this final and returned to the football league after three years out.

This will be a very painful one for Boreham Wood to take, they should have been out of sight at one stage, and were ten seconds away from winning it in normal time, a very bitter pill to swallow and their hopes of promotion to the EFL for the first time in their history was shattered, for Dale though maybe it was a deserved promotion after the season they had had, justice done maybe, but they were second best for large parts of this final, but they managed to get through it and earn their place in the Football League once again.

So, a dramatic afternoon at Wembley for one of these finals, to be expected after previous seasons when extra time and penalties are often required to separate sides, am absolutely gutted for Wood but pleased for Dale, it was certainly a very enjoyable watch.

Full time Boreham Wood 2 Rochdale 2 (aet; Rochdale won 3-1 on penalties)