The Division Three Cup final took place at Halstead Town FC between current league leaders Terling Villa and third placed Valley Green in their first season in the Braintree & North Essex Sunday League.
Valley started the game brightly creating a couple of half chances in the first 5 minutes, first a long free-kick in by McCormack was totally missed by Terling keeper Woolfenden as he came to punch, Valley’s O’Dowd headed towards goal but the ball was cleared away, a minute later, Ryan McCormack played a lovely ball out wide to the right to Harry Ellis who played in Robbie Bennett he crossed from inside the penalty area with the ball being cleared for a corner and from McCormack’s kick O’Dowd headed just over. Terling were taking time to get in to the game trying hard but lacking the final pass to open the Valley defence up their first opportunity came on 22 minutes when Alliston played the ball over the top for Tristan Woolfenden the league’s leading scoring but he fired wide, then the same player tried to lob the keeper after another ball over the top but could only lob the ball in to the goalkeepers arms. At the other end a great quick move from Valley saw Hughes play a ball through to Bennett who controlled and hit a long diagonal cross to Ellis who unfortunately got his volley all wrong and then minutes later good control from Hughes bringing the ball down well but his fierce strike went just wide of the target. O’Dowd had another chance to give Valley the lead on 33 minutes but his unchallenged header from another McCormack corner went straight to the keeper.
Half-time: Terling Villa 0 Valley Green 0
Terling made a change at half-time and did start the second half on the front foot putting the Valley defence under some pressure on 56 minutes substitute David Cornwell headed wide when well placed following a great cross from Webb. Valley’s first effort in the half nearly brought them a goal, good work by Jamie Taylor on the left who crossed for Brad Hughes whose first time shot was well saved with his legs by Woolfenden. Both sides made changes in an effort to get that opening goal but as the half wore on they were both lacking that final ball to create a goal scoring opportunity, Valley then began to up the tempo again with Hughes firing wide on 67 minutes after he was forced wide of goal by Douglas for Terling, the pressure told 5 minutes later when a free-kick taken by Hughes was headed in by CHARLIE DYER who had made a great run in to the box to give Valley the lead, Valley were now on top Hughes tried his luck from distance after turning well but the ball ended up in the keeper’s arms, then O’Dowd got on the end of another corner only to hit the post, the Greens went further ahead on 79 minutes when Jack Lawton made his way in to the penalty area and squared the ball nicely for HARRY ELLIS to slot past the keeper. Terling didn’t give up and created a couple of late chances to pull a goal back when Tristan Woolfenden fired wide and then the same player crossed for Scott Collins who fired over the bar, but it was Valley’s day as they lifted their first piece of silverware in front of their jubilant supporters and mascots.
Final Score: Terling Villa 0 Valley Green 2
Teams:
Terling Villa: Gavin Woolfenden, Steven Webb, Ben Agar-Hutton, Darren Douglas, Matthew Ross, Chris Collins, Scott Collins, Rik Cridland (c), Tristan Woolfenden, James Alliston, Thomas Creane. Substitutes: David Cornwell, Thomas Ryan, Frazer Gardiner.
Valley Green: Luke Nial, Ryan Scofield, Charlie Dyer, Robbie Bennett, Kalvin O’Dowd, Jake Williams, Ryan McCormack, Jamie Taylor, Brad Hughes, Ben Palmer, Harry Ellis. Substitutes: James Brown, Charlie Bell, Jack Lawton.
Referee: Thomas Francis
Assistant Referee’s: Derrick Packer and Kevin Hayhow
Fourth Official: Roger Crane
Man of the Match: Darren Douglas - Terling Villa FC
