Callum Ibe netted a
95th minute winner as Stansted completed an ESL Cup double with
victory over West Essex at The Prokit UK Stadium in Bishop’s Stortford to win
the Errington Challenge Cup, adding to their runners-up finish in the league
too.
Stansted had won the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy on Easter
Monday, and after they saw their title/promotion chances ended last weekend
they had the chance to end the season with another Trophy here.
They were up against a strong West Essex line-up though, and
with several key personal missing for this one the Airportmen knew this would
be a very tough encounter. And with West
themselves keen to finish the season with some silverware this was going to be
a good battle.
The first chance did fall to West as a Tom Macleod header
was cleared off the line by James Briggs, and West had the next chance to as
after a Joe Lefley free kick had been blocked, the ball came back to him and
his first-time effort was well saved by Charlie Turner.
West continued to have the better of the opening exchanges
and saw Michael Mignot’s close range effort saved by Turner, before a follow up
effort from Samraj Gill went straight at Turner, and then another West attack
saw full back Emanuel Wazola burst down the right and send a ball flashing
across goal.
Stansted’s first chance then arrived as a cross into the box
found Jordan Palmer, but he could only send his header straight at Jack Coker,
whilst a Stansted corner fell to Briggs just inside the box, but he could only
send his effort just over the bar.
West then fired over whilst down the other end Briggs went
close when firing over a Stansted free kick, before Mignot was slipped in but
his clipped finish from an acute angle went wide of the Airportmen’s near post.
Two minutes before the break though West should have taken
the lead when after Mignot beat Turner to a though ball, his sent an effort
towards goal but just as it was about to roll over the line, a defender got
back to clear it away, meaning this contest remained goalless at the break.
Half Time Stansted 0
West Essex 0
A decent crowd of 417 had come to see this one, and the
dangerous Mignot had the first chance of the second period, hooking the ball
over his head and taking two defenders out in the process to create a shooting
opportunity for himself, but his effort was scuffed straight at Stansted keeper
Turner.
Stansted replied to this by sending in a decent ball to Rob
Norris, but he could only divert a header into the hands of Coker, before a
great run by Gill towards the Stansted box ended with his effort flying just
over the crossbar, drawing oooh’s and ahhh’s from the crowd.
West continued to threaten and Lefley sent an effort at goal
which bounced in front of Turner, and although he could only parry the effort in
front of him, he managed to dive on the ball to thwart any more danger, before
Gill then went down in the box for West but saw his appeals waved away, however
the ball broke lose and saw a clearance almost go in off Mignot.
Stansted then sent a decent ball into the West area, but
substitute Harvey Brown could only slice his effort wide, whilst back down the
other end Mignot burst into the area but his cross just invaded Symeon Taylor’s
boot and the ball flashed across goal and away from danger.
Izzy Ogedi-Uzokwe then came on for West, and he should have
netted soon after as he struck an effort from a decent position straight at
keeper Turner, but as the game entered stoppage time there were still no goals
to show.
In the first minute of injury time though West should have
netted, as Mignot burst clear of the Stansted defence, but as he tried to go around
keeper Turner the stopper manged to claw the ball off his feet and save the
Airportmen. Mignot then got in again
soon after, rolling his marker but then seeing an effort blocked, and it seemed
destined this game was going to extra time.
But, in the fifth minute of injury time Stansted went on one
last attack and ended with the ball finding its way to the back post where Ibe
was waiting to head home from close range and win the Errington Challenge Cup
for The Airportmen, and at the same time break West Essex hearts.
Stansted will be first to admit they were second best today,
but they all did their jobs and dug in and netted when it mattered right at the
death, so will done to them for what they have achieved this season. Also, big mention to West Essex who on
another day could have won this one by two or three, but they should be mighty
proud also after where they have come from.
Full Time Stansted 1
West Essex 0
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