Combination Cup Final Report

Brading Town Reserves 1-3 VT FC Reserves

VT FC Reserves completed a fine season when they defeated Combination 2 Brading Town Reserves
to win The Sydenhams Football League Combination Cup. This was played at Blackfield & Langley FC
and despite the heavy downpour all day the pitch was in its usual good condition ideal for playing football on.
Both sides played some good football throughout the match and were a credit to The Combination Leagues.

VT FC got off to a great start with Prince Maclean heading in from a well flighted corner after 4 minutes.
It was end to end football with both sides going close. Brading started to get on top and it was no surprise when they equalised when Daniel Vale ran onto a through ball in the middle and slotted past the advancing VT keeper after 35 minutes.

Just before half time there were very close efforts by both number 9s at either end.
 
Both teams went in at halftime confident of winning.

The second half started at a fast pace and all players showed total commitment as showed by the number of time the trainers were called on for injuries.

VT FC gradually got on top with Prince Maclean dominating their defence and his brother Marvin bossing the midfield. This pressure soon paid off when a loose ball on the left was rammed home by VT FC centre forward
James Thomson in the 56 minute.

Brading pushed for an equaliser with Simon Armstrong and Justin Henderson prominent.

However a brilliant goal by the VT FC number 7 Andy Gordon in the 75th minute sealed the victory.
He picked up the ball out on the right wing and as he cut in hit a tremendous shot high into the net.

A goal to grace any final.

Brading tried hard and had several chances but VT FC deservedly ran out winners and secured another trophy in a very successful season.

Both teams were presented with their medals by yours truly and the Man of the Match Award was presented to Marvin Maclean of VT FC.

Sydenhams Football League Cup Final Report

Moneyfields 0-1 Wimborne Town

The League Cup Final kicked off in ideal conditions on a good surface at Christchurch.

Both teams started nervously with passes going astray and defences well on top.

Wimborne had a goal disallowed for offside after 12 minutes. Most of the play in the first half was concentrated in the middle of the field as both teams tried to find a way through good defences.

It was not until the 44th minute that a shot on goal by Moneyfield’s Guy Rutherford brought a comfortable save from the Wimborne keeper. The second half began with a bit more urgency from both attacks and Dean Harris had to be quick to get to a through ball before a Wimborne forward after 50 minutes.

Wimborne began to put pressure on Moneyfields with Mark Jones and Kevin James linking up with the front men.

The goal eventually came in the 58th minute when player manager Christer Warren took a free kick from the right wing that caused panic in the penalty area and Scott Joyce slid in at the far post just getting the vital touch to get the ball over the line despite desperate efforts from goalkeeper Harris to save.

Moneyfields then tried to get back on terms with Louis Savage going close 2 minutes later.

The play was end to end with the final ball for both teams not good enough.

Moneyfields had a great chance when a deep left wing cross was glanced wide by the Moneyfields
number 4 when unmarked after 80 minutes.

This was the last chance that they had, and Moneyfields almost went further behind in the last minute of normal time when Dean Harris made a brilliant diving save to keep out an attempted clearance by one of his defenders that was heading for the top corner.

Wimborne Town ran out victors and received the trophy from Sponsor Ray Pride.

The man of the match was chosen and presented by Referees Secretary Dennis Challis
to Marc Jones of Wimborne Town.