On a bright and Sunny day St Michaels arrived at VCD Sports Ground in the hope of making it 3rd time lucky.
In their third Cup Final in 4 years since they were formed, they started the game brightly and should have had a blatant penalty in the first couple of minutes when Adam Fahy was scythed down in the box. Unfortunately the referee was the only person in the ground that did not think it was a penalty with even the Baldon players laughing at the decision.
St Michaels were pushing hard for the first goal with Adam Fahy causing havoc down the left but as in many games this season a breakaway by Baldon after 9 minutes saw them take the lead. St Michaels did not let this get to them and 8 minutes later a cross by Jack Jolly was fiercely buried into the net by Adam Fahy to level the scores. 8 minutes later St Michaels supremacy was given another boost when Adam Fahy turned provider and Danny Baptiste scored to put St Michaels into the lead 2 – 1. With 4 minutes to half time Danny Baptiste took a nasty knee injury which saw Uche Ibemere replace him.
Baldon came out for the 2nd half in a much more determined mood and went pushing for the equaliser. After 55 minutes both Sam Meade and James McKerrell were booked with fouls in quick succession on Baldon players. After 60 minutes Dan Tarrant replaced Jack Jolly and two minutes later the game was virtually won when Captain Sam Meade flicked in to make the score 3 – 1 to St Michaels. On 68 minutes Harry Smart replaced James Mckerrell and on 79 minutes Nick Townsend replaced Jamal Ndakoji. With 10 minutes to go Baldon were unlucky not to reduce the deficit when they were denied by a brilliant save low down by Harry Graham. The remaining 10 minutes were spent with St Michaels keeping the ball and preserving their well deserved lead. The game finished 3 – 1 to St Michaels.
A brilliant performance from the boys to win their 1st Cup Final at the 3rd attempt. Whilst all of the boys played well. Special mention for Ryan Nibbs who whilst not being the biggest, won every header he went for and must have had a headache even before the ensuing beers. Special mention also for Adam Fahy for his terrorising of Baldon’s defence and for taking the lead as the season’s Top Goalscorer. Special mention also for Ben Baptiste for his non stop battling in midfield. Final special mention for my Man of the Match, Dan Regan who did not put a thing wrong in the whole of the game.
