Sunday 28th March 2010, Stanway Rovers FC, Kick-Off 2:30pm, Essex Cordell Under 13s Cup Final supported by Chelmsford Radio and Tesco.
Buckhurst Hill boss Brad Maltese was delighted with his “special team” after they sealed back-to-back County Cups with an impressive 3-0 Cordell Under 13s Cup triumph over Snaresbrook & Interwood having clinched Under 12s honours at county level just twelve months previously.
His team became the third Buckhurst side in as many years to win a youth County Cup, sealing their win with three first-half goals, and Maltese commented: “It was an amazing performance today. We played Snaresbrook in the league and drew 1-1 in a really tight game and they [Snaresbrook] don’t concede goals, so to score three against them in one half is phenomenal and has really shown we can play.”
The ELS Premier League team were over the hill and far away by half-time as a brace from William Osmond set them on the way to an unassailable lead. But Snaresbrook had an early opportunity when Brian Bontamba headed over the top on just 3 minutes. Buckhurst then edged ahead on 11, Michael Morris’ twisting run taking him into the penalty area where he found the bottom corner with a neat angled shot.
An equaliser could have arrived when Cuney Hassan’s corner was flicked on for Jesiah Lewis to stab wide at the far post and Snaresbrook were left to rue that miss when Buckhurst doubled their lead in the 27th minute, Osmond picking-up a through ball before rounding ‘keeper Tom Power and sliding into an unguarded net.
Four minutes later the Final was effectively settled as Callum Maltese’s cross was flicked home by the head of Osmond at the back post. Buckhurst Hill weathered early second-half pressure from Snaresbrook, who were restricted to just the one real opening, Sebastian Gardiner firing over the top from close range.
The victory means Buckhurst Hill now progress to the Tesco Cup where they travel to Putney for the Southern England Finals on 17th April, with the English Finals to be played at Derby County FC’s Pride Park on 9th May and the UK Finals at Bolton Wanderers FC’s Reebok Stadium a week later if they progress.
This prospect clearly excites Maltese, who forecasted: “Our aim was to score twice to beat them and we’ve excelled ourselves. We’ve a busy schedule left with twelve league games to go and now the national Tesco Cup where we have a terrific opportunity to play at Pride Park and the Reebok Stadium. We can’t wait and this really is a special team.”
Buckhurst Hill: Jake Lewis, Dady Archie, Frank Glock, Alex Ryan, Max Ward, Scott O’Connor, Ben Burgess, Jamie Fuller, William Osmond, Callum Maltese, Michael Morris. Substitutes (repeated): Daniel O’Sullivan, Daniel Pollock, Jake Chatfield, Joffe Bradley, Kieran Bruns.
Snaresbrook & Interwood: Tom Power, Malakai McGregor, Cuney Hassan, Connor Page, Kyhien Waugh, Prince Numa, Lee Hursit, Nasir Ibrahim, Jesiah Lewis, Ryan Rothwell, Brian Bontamba. Substitutes (repeated): Sebastian Gardiner, Codie Gregory, Samuel Yeboah, Xavier Plowright, Robert Mensah.
Bookings: Snaresbrook: Numa (70+5, unsporting behaviour).
Referee: Patrick Cullen (Grays).
Assistant Referees: Jonathan Davey (Ilford) and Michael Tant (Colchester).
Fourth Official: Paul Hever (Colchester).
Attendance: 128.