Errington Challenge
Cup Final (at Capershotts, Waltham Abbey FC)
Sawbridgeworth Town 0
Great Wakering Rovers 1
Neil Richmond netted just before the hour mark to see Rovers
complete an ESL double after they tasted Errington Challenge Cup glory by
defeating Sawbridgeworth Town at a baking Capershotts on Bank Holiday Monday.
Rovers came into this one understandably favourites however
they came up against a Sawbridgeworth side who had performed well in 2018 and
had seen then go from bottom three material to top ten in the space of four
months, finishing in eighth at the end of it all, so they were not going to be
easy to beat here.
The opening quarter of an hour was fairly even, with the
best chance falling to Rovers but saw James Mays in the Robins goal make a terrific
double save, firstly from Aaron Russell and then from Richmond, but the game
remained tight and goalless.
Rovers also saw an attempted cross land on top of the bar on
the half hour mark however the game itself was lacking creativity in the final
third and it looked like the heat was taking it’s toll on the players as the
contest had really failed to find its spark.
However the final part of the half did see some rather hard
challenges go in as the contest became a little feisty, and right on half time
the Robins almost took the lead however Aaron Thomas could not get on the end
of a cross and the chance went, and it meant the game remained goalless at the
break.
Half Time
Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Great Wakering Rovers 0
Rovers came out slightly better in the second period and saw
a sight of goal go array as they looked to edge ahead in this rather tight
affair in the heat of Waltham Abbey, but just before the hour mark Rovers found
the breakthrough when Richmond found himself in behind the defence, and he
slotted an effort across Mays and into the far corner for the strikers 31st
goal of the season.
Thereafter Rovers missed two really good chances to extend
their lead, firstly when Richmond got in behind again but saw his effort saved
by Mays, before the Rovers striker saw a downward header bounce over the
crossbar.
After another drinks break, which was needed in near 30 degree
heat, Rovers passed up another chance when Richmond latched onto a wonderful
lofted pass from Stephen Butterworth to volley first time at goal but saw Mays beat
away, before Butterworth then saw an
effort saved by Mays as Rovers looked for that killer second goal.
The Robins though had the ball in the net with six minutes
to go when a header was palmed across goal to the back post where it was nodded
in, however the flag had gone up for offside, but it was a warning to Rovers
that this tie was far from over.
Substitute Chris Bryan then had the chance to seal it for
Rovers in the final minute of normal time but again saw Mays thwart them, and
then the fourth official announced their would be five additional minutes to
come.
This briefly lifted The Robins who saw substitute Daryl
Doolan fire a decent effort at Louis Hawes in the Rovers goal, but try as they
might they just could not find a way through a resolute Wakering backline.
And it meant the Burroughs Park side held onto win this one
and complete the ESL double, and win the first League Cup competition under the
Errington family name, which was fitting for Rovers boss Ian O’Connell who has
been a good friend of the family for some time, so it meant a lot to him.
Commiserations to Sawbridgeworth Town though who lost their
second successive Challenge Cup final, but they can be proud of their season
which has been another decent one for sure.
Full Time
Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Great Wakering Rovers 1
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