This week saw the division one cup final take place at Halstead Town between CFC Shalford Reserves and Witham Galacticos. A tight affair was expected and that was the way it turned out.
Shalford had the best of the early exchanges, their first corner came in the 5th minute which was cleared by Orr, then 10 minutes later a great cross from Foy was cleared away by Murphy for Galacticos, from the resulting corner Danny Saffer headed just over. Galacticos best opportunities of the half came when a shot from Yeo was cleared off the line by Shaun Kelly and then Clark headed over from three yards when well placed. Shalford took the lead three minutes before the interval when a cross from Havelin was finished well by Ed FOY who flicked the ball past Cannock in the Galacticos goal, Galacticos pushed for the equaliser in the dying minutes of the half but Shalford defended stoutly.
Half-time: CFC Shalford Reserves 1 Witham Galacticos 0
Galacticos came out fighting in the second half and pushed hard for the leveller in the first ten minutes of the half, first Ahern headed a free-kick just wide, Yeo’s dribble and run in to the box forced a corner when again Ahern shot just wide, then James Lawes rounded keeper Lipscombe but saw his shot cleared of the line for a second time as Simpson this time managed the get the ball clear. Shalford had now weathered the storm and began to force Galacticos back, a dangerous cross from Rolfe was hacked clear by Murphy, then Cannock saved well from Havelin’s free-kick, as Shalford began to dominate a long range effort from Saffer bounced awkwardly for Cannock the ball going off and up and over his head, the ball may have crossed the line but he finally managed to gather the ball in, Havelin’s shot went just over as Galacticos tried in vain to get past a disciplined Midfield and defensive line and in the end the score remain at 1-0 to see Shalford Reserves lift the division cup for the first time.
Final score: CFC Shalford Reserves 1 Witham Galacticos 0
It has been a fantastic season even though we had to accept defeat, one of the only times we didnt perform this year was in a cup final. On the plus side we have won the league by a huge 15 points and only tasted defeat once in the league a brilliant achievement by everyone
Todays man of the match was Pat Ahern, superb throughout as were the rest of the back four
Bring on the Prem Next Year!!!
