A late winner saw Jolof
Sports claim victory over ACD United to win the Essex Alliance League Fenton
Cup, completing a treble in the process, as they departed the League in fine
style.
Both teams had finished in the top two of the Senior Division,
with Jolof having won the division, and both were to leave the Alliance League
having decided to make the step up to higher divisions for next season. Jolof would be joining the Middlesex County
League at Step Eight whilst ACD United would be joining Senior Three in the
Essex Olympian League.
This then would be a battle between the best two sides in
the Essex Alliance for the Fenton Cup, and with each side having beaten each
other once this season, it was too hard to call who would win this one.
ACD had the first opening when a corner to the far post was
headed back across goal but cleared, before Jolof saw a ball into the box
headed towards the near post but a good block denied them a clear effort at
goal.
There was almost an embarrassing moment for the Jolof keeper
when a forward ball from ACD saw him come and attempt to control before
clearing, but he misjudged the fight of the ball and mis controlled it, almost
loosing it to the striker, but luckily for him a defender was on hand to take
control of the situation and clear.
The game though needed a spark and after half an hour it got
that spark following a poor challenge from Jolof, sparking rather unsavoury
scenes, and the result of all that saw Jolof receive a straight red, meaning
they were now down to ten men. Advantage
ACD you might think?
Jolof though were soon screaming at the referee again when
after they got goal side of the defence, they were up in arms after they
claimed a foul inside the box, but the referee said no, sparking more furious reactions
from the Jolof side. They were in danger
of loosing their heads and need to keep a lid on proceedings.
ACD had a chance late in the half to take the lead but saw
brave keeping deny them from close range before a foul was then given against
the attacking side, meaning Jolof could regather themselves. It also meant the first half ended goalless
and no doubt two very different team talks to come.
Half Time Jolof
Sports 0 ACD United 0
Jolof had the first effort on target in the whole game early
in the second period when an effort was tipped over, and then sloppy play from
ACD allowed Jolof to break, but they could only drag wide of goal from a good
position.
Jolof then saw a header blocked before forcing two
successive corners, which came to nothing, and then they headed another effort
wide from a free kick. It was hard to
see who had the ten men it had to be said.
The ten men then threatened again when forcing a brilliant
save from a free kick, Jolof were certainly the better side in this half that
was for sure, and ACD had rarely threatened despite having that man advantage.
ACD did then whip in a dangerous free kick which saw the
keeper punch clear with ACD about to nod it towards goal, before Jolof broke again
and had men over free, but the ball across was poor and easily intercepted.
ACD then came as close as they were to come to finding what could
have been a winner when glancing wide from six yards out, and it looked as
though this tie would be going to penalties.
But, in the 91st minute up popped Jolof to send a
long-range effort towards ACD’s goal which dipped right in front of the keeper
who could not stop it going beyond him and into the net to spark wild scenes
from the Jolof side. It proved enough to
win the game and seal a treble for Dan Brissett’s side.
Full Time Jolof
Sports 1 ACD United 0
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