Sunday 25th April 2010, Thurrock FC, Kick-Off 10:30am, Essex Rosser Under 15s Cup Final supported by Chelmsford Radio.
Buckhurst Hill clinched their second County Cup of the season as a four-goal first half burst clinched the Rosser Under 15s Cup with victory over Maldon Town at Thurrock’s Ship Lane to add to the silverware their Under 13s had already claimed the previous month, Manager Nicky Cosson describing the win as “tremendous”.
The Cordell Under 13s Cup had earlier been secured by the club, repeating a 2008 success achieved by many of the current Under 15s side now led by Cosson. His team then made it two county titles in three thanks to a terrific first half in which Jamie Dickens scored twice as Hill raced into an unassailable 4-0 half-time lead. “We have a great team spirit with a winning mentality,” their boss revealed after the game.
“Both teams played some good stuff and I told the boys to go out after half-time and keep doing what they were doing. We expected a tough game and that’s what Maldon gave us but we showed a solid all-round team performance. Now we’ll try to keep all the boys together and half of them have been in this team since the Under 10s and 11s. They seem to have a strong bond which shone through on the day at Thurrock.”
Their intentions were evident from the start, with Harry Tew-Robinson denied by an offside flag within 23 seconds, and they duly took the lead their pressure warranted on 8 minutes. A long free-kick was floated to the edge of the area and flicked into the path of Dickens, who found time and space inside the box to fire past ‘keeper Daniel Kirkham.
That advantage was doubled on 19 minutes. Kirkham was caught out by a long ball forward and Hill’s George Sykes latched onto the loose ball to slot his side into a two-goal lead. Maldon continued to play good football themselves, but found opportunities hard to come by and were unfortunate to concede a third on 34 when a hefty clearance ricocheted off the Referee and fell to Dickens in the area who coolly slotted home.
Buckhurst Hill all but clinched the tie with a fourth on the stroke of half-time, on this occasion Tew-Robinson confidently firing past Kirkham after fine work on the right-hand side. Maldon were beaten, but they rallied in the second half without being able to make enough clear-cut opportunities to haul themselves back into the tie.
They were rewarded with a consolation on 65 minutes, though, Matthew Caley capitalising on a loose ball in the box before shooting beyond ‘keeper James Bransgrove. Town continued to press, but Hill had few problems holding onto a three-goal cushion and the subsequent victory, clinching a second Rosser Cup triumph in four years.
Buckhurst Hill: James Bransgrove, Ryan Cosson, Reiss Kashket, Charlie Whall, Ross Woolward, Jamie Dickens, Jack Gould, Danny Potter, Jack Payne, George Sykes, Harry Tew-Robinson. Substitutes (repeated): Joe Gent, Daniel Gilchrist, Denziel Gerrar.
Maldon Town: Daniel Kirkham, Stephen Ellis, Billy Coe, Scott Cruickshank, Matthew Harris, Oliver Fisher, George Smith, George Cocklin, Bradley Bushell, Ben Arnold, Marshall Carrington. Substitutes (repeated): Dominic Rowe, Conor Perkins, Matthew Caley, Martin Whitcomb, Aidan Martin.
Referee: Dean Markwick (Corringham).
Assistant Referees: Jack Bloxham (Rayleigh) and Melvin Bloss (Stanford-le-Hope).
Fourth Official: Nicholas Pavitt (Little Wakering).
Attendance: 197.