DIVISION ONE LEAGUE CUP FINAL 2008

FORD BASILDON 1 - 1 OLD SOUTHENDIAN  (Won aet & pens)
Carlisle 29                                  Nelson 79

This final was the one ,which everyone thought would be the best so far. To be honest it never quite got going and despite the amount of effort put in by both sides it never lived up to expectations. However, it was still a decent game to watch and given that is was a bitterly cold evening it was played at a good pace throughout. The Ford side enjoyed most of the early play and could have gone ahead in the 20th minute when Kenny Carlisle shot wide from close range. Within ten minutes the Ford man made up for his miss when he fired his side into the lead after latching on to a rebound in the Old Boys area.  Old Boys seemed to find it hard to recapture the form that had seen them crowned as County Cup winners just ten day's previous.  Ford went in at half time a goal to the good.

Ian Mildren    Carl Richardson   Dave Chittock	The Captains Meet

The second half saw Ford go in search of a second goal and the Old Boys defence marshaled superbly by the man-of-the-match Mark Jerman stood firm. Jeff Hamlet was in great form for Ford as they kept on pressing the 'Green Machine' back into their own half. Micky Steel was a constant threat and some of the Ford approach play was good to watch. Steve Smith made a couple of outstanding saves for the Ford men as the Old Boys began to get back into the game.

As the clock ran down it seemed that the Cup would be going back to Basildon as the Old Boys tried hard but never seemed to get the final telling pass to open up the Ford defence. Just as the crowd were thinking about getting into the clubhouse and out of the bitterly cold evening air - up popped Gary Nelson to score the Old Boys equaliser in the 79th minute. The former Southend star scored from close range to send the large contingent of Old Boys supporters into raptures. The final ten minutes saw both sides going for a win but it was not to be and extra time was now required.

After 20 minutes of extra time had been played, the sides were still deadlocked thus meaning the dreaded penalty shoot - out would now decide the outcome of this final. Its always a sad way to lose a final but it was again to be the Old Boys who lifted the silverware. If I had to sum up the game I would say that it was a competitive game, played the right way by two fine ambassadors for the league and both of these sides should hold their own in the Premier Division next season.

I must say it was great to see so many clubs represented at this game including people from Chapel United, Hockley & Hawkwell, Southend Collegians, Gt Wakering Rvs, Rochford Sports, Leigh Ramblers, Foulness, Wheatleys, Chalkwell United & Tag United. Let's hope we get the same for next Wednesday's Division Two final between Gt Wakering II & Supporters Club at Eastwoodbury.

Winning Old Boys Skipper Duncan Raggett                                                    Man of the Match
receiving the Cup from League Chairman Les Fordham                                    Mark Jerman
                                                                                                                  Without his Two-Piece trophy!!

BACK