Essex Senior Len Cordell Memorial Trophy Final, Thursday 24th April
I was over at another Essex Senior League Final on the last Thursday of April, and it saw Bowers & Pitsea's Reserve side up against Hutton's U23 side at Lower Road, home of Hullbridge Sports of course, below is all the results of the competition which would climax here this evening:-
Round One
Buckhurst Hill Reserves 0-3 Heybridge Swifts Reserves
Walthamstow U23 3-0 White Ensign Reserves
Takeley Reserves 4-2 Aveley U23
Basildon United 13-1 Hullbridge Sports Reserves (game voided)
Ilford Reserves 3-2 Southend Manor Reserves
Round Two
Barking U23 4-2 Grays Athletic Reserves
Bowers & Pitsea Reserves 5-0 Waltham Abbey Reserves
Hashtag United Reserves 3-1 Sawbridgeworth Town Reserves
Heybridge Swifts Reserves 7-4 Ilford Reserves
Redbridge Reserves 1-2 May & Baker Reserves
Walthamstow Reserves 3-1 Basildon United Reserves
Takeley Reserves 1-3 Billericay Town Reserves
Hutton U23 received a bye into the Quarter Finals
Quarter Finals
Barking U23 2-1 Walthamstow Reserves
Heybridge Swifts Reserves 2-1 Hashtag United Reserves
Billericay Town Reserves 1-3 Hutton U23
Bowers & Pitsea Reserves 3-1 May & Baker Reserves
Semi Finals
Barking U23 3-3 Bowers & Pitsea Reserves (Bowers & Pitsea Reserves won 5-3 on penalties)
Heybridge Swifts Reserves 2-5 Hutton U23
So, Bowers had seen off Waltham Abbey, May & Baker before winning a semi final shoot out against Barking, Hutton had played one less round and seen off Billericay & Heybridge, how would this final go?
Bowers started the better in this one and midway through the first half grabbed the lead when a ball into the box found Lindo Khumalo who kept his composure before lifting the ball high into the net, they had further openings to add to their lead but could not capitalise on this, and a few minutes before half time they were made to pay.
A tackle sent Hutton's George Briton-Watkins through on goal, and he made no mistake in finding the net and saw the sides go into the break all square, Bowers would have been scratching their heads and wondering how, but fair play to Hutton who had dug in and stayed in the contest, getting their reward late on in the half.
Both sides had good chances early in the second half, but just past the hour mark Bowers retook the lead, and it was awful defending by Hutton, who all stopped and watched John Elongo receive the ball inside the box, totally free, and given all the time in the world to fire home, and left the Hutton players looking at each other and wondering who was supposed to be covering him.
Hutton though were not done, and after they saw keeper Carter Collins had to go off injured and be replaced by sub keeper Alfie Fitzearle, they levelled once again in the 80th minute, as a ball in from the left saw Oliver Noble who helped it on it way into the far corner, extra time was now looming.
Bowers though were handed a golden chance to win the game in normal time when they were awarded a penalty for a foul inside the box, which was too much for Hutton's Cameron McKenzie who was duly sin binned for his protests towards the referee, and it meant Ibrahim Adi stepped up to take the spot kick, but it was a poor one and allowed keeper Fitzearle to make the stop, and the game was heading for extra time.
Bowers must have felt this wasn't their night, although in extra time they definitely looked the stronger as Hutton seemed to be tiring more than their opponents, but they were fighting for everything in what was a superb cup final, however, Bowers were not to be denied and with 111 minutes on the clock they grabbed the winner as Khumalo was sent through on the right and he fired across the keeper and into the corner and win the Trophy for his side.
A superb game and a great contest, watched by a decent crowd of 186 too, well played both sides but congratulations to Bowers on their success!!!
Full time Bowers & Pitsea Reserves 3 Hutton U23 2
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