BBC Essex Senior Cup Final, Tuesday March 18th
Mid march and the first major cup final in my season and in the season in general in these parts, and it was the prestigious County Cup in Essex between two big sides in the shape of Canvey Island & Hornchurch at the superb Community Stadium in Colchester, home of League Two Colchester United of course.
Once again I needed to thank Barry Fitzgerald of the Essex FA in inviting me as his guest for this occasion, meaning hospitality in the lounge and decent seats on the halfway line too, very nice and feels like a reward for what I do in local football so I am always grateful to them and Barry for doing this for me, it's very much appreciated.
We all had a potentially decent final to enjoy too, Hornchurch started the game as favourites being the side from a higher division, Canvey currently are one place above the drop zone in the Isthmian Premier Division, albeit seven points above it, whereas The Urchins were mid table in the Vanarama National League South, one level above.
However, this was a cup final so anything could happen and it was all on the day, both these sides had began their campaigns in the Third Round, and had got through four games to reach this final, Canvey had seen off Essex Senior League Buckhurst Hill & Vanarama National League Dagenham & Redbridge before needing penalties to see off Isthmian North Brighlingsea Regent & then Vanarama National League South Chelmsford City in the Semi Finals, so they had beaten sides above them in the pyramid to get to this stage.
Hornchurch's campaign saw them begin by squeezing past Isthmian North Maldon & Tiptree on penalties before they then saw off a plucky Thurlow Nunn South side Rayleigh Town in Round Four, they then netted a 4-2 win at Hashtag United who are in the Isthmian Premier before they netted a comfortable 4-0 semi final win at Isthmian North Heybridge Swifts to reach this final at Colchester United's Community Stadium.
So how would this contest go? The first half saw little in the way of goal mouth action, the first real chance came in the 27th minute when Bradley Sach, the Canvey number nine, fired inches wide of the post, and four minutes after this Hornchurch thought they had taken the lead when Giles Phillps nodded home after a ball over to the far side had been nodded back into the danger zone, however the assistants flag had gone up as the ball had gone out of play.
But, three minutes before the break came the breakthrough, and it was a screamer too, Charlee Adams thumping an unstoppable effort into the top corner from thirty yards out to hand Hornchurch a slender lead at the break, it had been the only real moment of quality in the game thus far on a rather poor pitch it has to be said, but The Urchins held the advantage as everyone poured back into the warmth for a half time cuppa.
Canvey certainly were the better side after the break and although their were not to many clear cut chances they were the ones who were applying the most pressure, but a solid Urchins back line kept them at arms length although they rarely threatened in the second period, but still it looked as though that brilliant strike from Adams just before half time was going to prove decisive and win the cup for the Vanarama South outfit.
Canvey though had other ideas and just would not give up, and two minutes into stoppage time they found a dramatic leveller, Sach seeing a effort appear to take a deflection and bounce over keeper Mason Terry and end up in the far corner of the net, and cue mass celebrations between the Canvey players and supporters, and penalties were now needed to decide who would win the Senior Cup.
Canvey of course had won their last two ties on spot kicks so were not afraid of this scenario, Hornchurch had won their Round Three tie on spot kicks too so had also experienced this outcome in their run too, this was the final though so no doubt both sets of players would be nervous, that's only natural.
Hornchurch went first and it was an awful penalty if truth be told, the ball being dragged wide of the target, Canvey then netted their first penalty before Hornchurch then managed to find the target before Canvey netted again and then saw The Urchins strike the post with their third kick, Canvey once again netted a composed kick meaning they held a 3-1 lead after three pens each. Advantage Canvey for sure.
Hornchurch were now pretty much in sudden death territory and managed to net their fourth kick to keep the shootout going, but knew if Canvey netted their fourth, it was all over, and who was the man to take the penalty, none other than Sach, the guy who had netted the stoppage time leveller and public enemy number one The Urchins supporters, they had battered him all game, so the irony was apparent.
Sach held his nerve too, slotting the penalty beyond the dive of Terry before ripping off his shirt and running over to celebrate in front of those Hornchurch fans, it was the perfect end for him and for Canvey who have had a tough season this campaign, so to win this prestigious competition was a perfect tonic for the club who will now look to secure their Isthmian Premier status for next season.
For Hornchurch it was so near yet so far, they were two minutes or so away from winning this themselves, but that's football as they say and they will now look to finish as best they can in the Vanarama South this season and go again next year, not the greatest of finals, but a dramatic end and worth the wait for sure.
Full time Canvey Island 1 Hornchurch 1 (Canvey Island won 4-2 on penalties)
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