Today (Bank Holiday Monday) I made my first trip Oxhey Jets Boundary Stadium as it hosted the Dudley Latham Cup Final, the Spartan South Midlands League’s Premier Cup Competition.
The contenders for this cup were 2013-14 runners up Berkhamsted and 2010-11 winnersColney Heath so both were looking to add there name to the trophy for the current season.
Berko finished 19 points and six places above their opponents in the League but it was Colney Heath who had the first chance of the game on 8 minutes when a ball in from Bronti caused keeper Tasker some concern but he managed to get ahead of the onrushing forward to eventually clear the danger.
Chances were few and far between in the first quarter of the match although on 18 minutes another ball into the Berko box saw Standen miss his kick completely as the ball ran across him. Colney were certainly asking more of the questions thus far as Berko had hardly created an opening at all.
On 26 minutes the best chance of game thus far unsurprisingly fell to Colney as a corner was glanced wide by Mensah in what was a let off for the Comrades. Just past the half hour mark another chance fell to Colney as Laurence managed to get in but he couldn’t quite connect with the ball and then moments later a Colney corner saw Draper head over when he should have at least hit the target.
Eight minutes before the break good play by Colney saw a Welsh cross headed wide by Standen at the near post as Colney continued to carve out the openings and be much the better side in this first half. It was still quite a competitive game however and you knew Berko would create something at some point, and sure enough two minutes before the break they scored with their first effort on goal as Caines went on a run towards the Colney box before cutting inside onto his right foot and rifling an effort past Blackman who should of done better but nevertheless Berko had pinched the lead and went into the break a goal up.
Half Time: Berkhamsted 1 Colney Heath 0
That goal at the end of the first half gave Berko more impetus for the second half and two minutes into it they should have made it two as a corner found Carbery who headed over from point blank range when it looked easier to score and then ten minutes into the half another golden chance for the Comrades as after the ball eventually fell to Jowle inside the box right in front of goal and you thought he must score but saw his effort blocked heroically on the line by the Colney defence.
Just past the hour mark Colney won a dubious free kick in a decent position but Welsh hit a poor effort miles over in what was a total waste of a free kick. Two minutes after this more Berko pressure saw a great ball out to Jowle who saw his cross drift just wide of the far post. The Comrades were looking far more lively going forward now and with twenty minutes left Canham saw his effort cleared off the line by Colney’s defence once again after his downward header from a corner.
Colney however were still in this contest and on 73 minutes a well worked corner from them out to Standen saw his first time volley from twenty yards cleared off the Berko line. It was a warning to Berko that this game was well and truly in the balance still. With ten minutes to go a good ball into Berko’s box saw Laurence attempt a glancing header but didn’t get enough on the ball and keeper Tasker saved easily.
With six minutes to go Berko’s Christie did well to get into the box but instead of squaring the ball to his fellow teammates he poked the ball at goal with his left foot in what was a really poor effort. Then with two minutes to go Colney levelled the tie up when Payne tried his luck from way out and saw the ball dip in front of keeper Tasker and under his body and through his legs into the net. It was pretty poor keeping in all honesty but Colney didn’t care one jot.
On 90 minutes came a melee between both sides as tempers frayed. It had been threatening to boil over for a while in what was a hard fought competitive final. The resultant punishment was a booking for each side. Soon after the referee blew for full time and so we had ourselves another half hour.
Full Time: Berkhamsted 1 Colney Heath 1
Three minutes into extra time a Berko corner was flicked across goal and away for goal kick and then three minutes later up the other end Welsh’s free kick into the box was headed well wide by Bronti. In the 100th minute there was almost calamity at the back for Colney as a ball in was left by Mensah and almost let in Christie behind him who poked at goal but keeper Blackman managed to tip wide….just.
Just before the half time of extra time another silly little flare up occured. There was quite a bit of needle in this game now which was threatening to spoil what had been a great battle thus far.
Three minutes into the second period of extra time Colney’s Bronti struck from range and saw it deflect just wide and then in the 110th minute a great move from Berko saw a ball into the six yard box and Osborne saw his effort cleared off the line brilliantly yet again. There was one more effort at goal from the Comrades with three minutes to go when Caines stung the palms of Blackman from the angle but neither team could get that winning goal and so it was penalties to determine the winners.
The first seven penalties were successful and with Berko winning the shootout 4-3 Colney’s Draper stepped up to have a go and put the ball wide leaving Lawrence the chance to win the Cup for the Comrades and he duly dispatched into the corner to send Berko wild with delight and make sure they became the Dudley Latham Cup winners for this season.
Commiserations to Colney Heath who more than played their part in a decent cup final. It had been an awesome battle out there.
Full Time (aet): Berkhamsted 1 Colney Heath 1 (Berkhamsted won 5-3 on penalties)
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