County Cups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SATURDAY JUNIOR TROPHY

 
 

SATURDAY JUNIOR TROPHY

FINAL

Real Ravensdale  2 v 1  Scotia Billericay Res

Wednesday 25th March 2009 
at New Lodge  7:45pm k.o
 
Real Ravensdale boss Russell Mead believes his Clacton-based team fully deserved their victory in the final of the Essex Saturday Junior Trophy, even though Scotia squandered a succession of opportunities at New Lodge which could have taken the tie into a tense period of extra time.

Goals from Grant Skeggs and a stunning free-kick from Richard Beet were enough for Real to claim the silverware despite a 45th-minute sending-off and Jack Carruthers' late reply for Scotia, and Mead is convinced his side were worthy victors. He summarised: "Both teams knocked the ball around well, and we had to in the second half due to having a man less. We expected them to come at us and they didn't let us down, but some excellent individual performances in defence helped keep them out."

Early in the game it was Scotia who seized the initiative with the opening attacking possession, Chris O'Kane sprinting through only to be denied by the offside flag while, at the other end, Dan Finlay and Skeggs attempted long-rangers which caused only a minor mischief to Billericay goalkeeper Sean Hinton. Mid-way through the half it was Scotia again who were left to rue a glorious opportunity when, in an attempt to shepherd a routine ball out for a goal-kick, a Ravensdale defender inadvertently allowed a hungry opponent to rob him of the ball near the touch-line. Scotia's Mark Stratton was the lucky beneficiary in front of goal though his first chipped touch took the ball away from him.

Even more clear-cut was Scotia's next opening on 28 minutes. A hooked cross from deep bounced dangerously inside the Ravensdale box where the tall figure of Stratton emerged to take a touch with his chest but somehow he blazed over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box. The Blues would ultimately go on to rue their squandered chances as they found themselves behind at the interval. Skeggs was sent through on goal and he successfully lifted the ball over the advancing Hinton and home on 34 minutes.

There was still enough time for further incident in the first half as Stratton sprinted through the Real rearguard and his head overcame 'keeper John Patrick's loose grasp on the ball yet he found enough defensive cover on hand to deny him a tap-in. The key moment, however, saw Ravensdale's Dan Finlay dismissed on the stroke of half-time for an over-the-top challenge on an opponent.

After the interval Real were forced to retaliate by keeping hold of the ball as often as possible and showing why they had won 14 of their 15 games in Division One of the Colchester & East Essex League so far this season. Their right-winger, Jamie Brett, was unlucky not to generate enough swerve on his strike after cutting-in and shooting with the outside of his boot on 51 minutes.

Introduced from the bench for Ken Robinson's Mid Essex League outfit Billericay shortly afterwards was Sam Babbage, and he got straight into the thick of things by earning a free-kick on the edge of the area which was whipped inches wide by Stratton, also generating other chances to no avail. Yet it was a dead ball at their own end which provided the next, ultimately decisive goal.

A foul 25 yards out allowed Beet to guide an effort low and on target, his shot slipping through the arms of Hinton and into the net with only fifteen minutes remaining. From this point it was almost constant Scotia pressure, with a slice of misfortune afforded to Ravensdale as a ball from the right evaded an attentive defender and hit substitute Carruthers before careering into the goal. This immediately followed a sterling strike from Stratton just inside the box which forced Patrick into a reflex, diving save to his left.

Having thumped the crossbar with power three minutes from time and seen a last-minute shot cleared off the line by back-tracking defender Jay Rider, Scotia could consider themselves unfortunate not to have taken anything from the game, yet Mead maintained: "During the first 15 minutes we started slowly and made a few defensive errors which handed them some chances, but then we came into the game more and I think the sending-off was the turning point. It was backs against the wall at times in the second half but we defended extremely well in the second half and deserved the victory."
 
 
Real Ravensdale: John Patrick, Adam Hillyer, Richard Beet (Jay Rider, 88), Darren Raing, Mark Rudkin, Joe Hinchcliffe, Grant Skeggs (Neil Brooks, 39), Andy Reed, Dan Finlay, Simon Cotterell, Jamie Brett. Unused Substitutes: Duncan Perry, Russell Mead.

Scotia Billericay Reserves: Sean Hinton (1), Dan Smith (2) (Billy Dulieu [4], 79), Kevin O'Kane (16), Mark Mariner (5), Russ Williamson (15), Nick Hughes (14) (Jack Carruthers [9], 73), Mark Stratton (7), Tom Lynch (8), Chris O'Kane (6), Jack Burn (C) (10), Pete Stratton (11) (Sam Babbage [12], 59). Unused Substitutes: Matt Slaney (3), Rob Baillie (17).

Bookings: Scotia: Lynch (73, foul).

Sent Off: Real Ravensdale: Finlay (45, serious foul play).

Referee: Adam Miller (Southend-on-Sea).

Assistant Referees: Mark Irvine (Westcliff-on-Sea) and Michael Bottomley (Rainham).

Fourth Official: Andrew Russell (Chelmsford).

Attendance: 175.
  
   

GROUP FIVE  -  ROUND ONE

 
 
1 Focus Ferrers 3 v 0 Hullbridge Sports Reserves
  2 Tillingham Hotspur W v L Latchingdon (Withdrawn)  
3 Brendans 4 v 2 Brightlingsea Regent A
  4 St Ives 4 v 1 Eastcliff   
5 Clacton United Reserves 4 v 2 Ardleigh United 
  6 Burnham Ramblers Third 4 v 2 Castle   
7 Battlesbridge 3 v 2 Boreham 
  8 Ravens Reserves (Withdrawn) L v W Barnsford Hurricanes   
9 Steeple Bumpstead Reserves 3 v 4 Real Ravensdale 
  10 Southminster St Leonards Third 2 v 1 Beacon Hill Rovers Reserves  
 
      

GROUP FIVE  -  ROUND TWO

 
 
11 Mistley United A (withdrawn) L v W Clacton United Reserves
  12 Crays Hill United 3 v 4 Great Bentley A  
13 Mundon Vics Reserves 1 v 0 Barnsford Hurricanes 
  14 Braintree & Bocking United Res 0 v 5 Real Ravensdale   
15 Tillingham Hotspur 5 v 1 Lexden Rovers 
  16 Battlesbridge 3 v 2 St Ives  
17 Focus Ferrers 9 v 2 Burnham Ramblers Third
  18 Brendans 0 v 1 Southminster St Leonards Third  
 
    

GROUP FIVE  -  ROUND THREE

 
  
19 Battlesbridge 5 v 1 Mundon Vics Reserves
  20 Great Bentley A 0 v 3 Focus Ferrers  
21 Tillingham Hotspur 4 v 0 Southminster St Leonards Third
  22 Clacton United Reserves 1 v 6 Real Ravensdale   
  
    

GROUP FIVE  -  ROUND FOUR

 
  
23 Focus Ferrers 0 v 3 Tillingham Hotspur
  24 Battlesbridge 0 v 3 Real Ravensdale   
   

 
   

GROUP SIX  -  ROUND ONE

 
 
26 Debden Sports Club Reserves 0 v 2 Sheering Reserves
  27 Great Baddow Reserves 2 v 3 Wickham Royals   
28 Dunmow 0 v 4 Harold Wood Hospital 
  29 Scotia Billericay Reserves 6 v 1 Marconi Athletic Reserves  
30 North Weald Reserves 2 v 5 Shenfield Hollands (aet)
  31 Potter Street A 1 v 4 E2V Technologies   
32 Old Chelmsfordians Third 2 v 1 Ashdon Villa 
  33 Hutton Third 3 v 8 Heath Park A  
34 Avondale Rangers 1 v 0 Springfield Third
  35 Epping Third 0 v 6 Writtle Manor   
 
    

GROUP SIX  -  ROUND TWO

 
 
36 Essex Police (withdrawn) L v W Wickham Royals 
  37 Wickford Rangers W v L Forest Glade Res (withdrawn)  
38 Haver Town 4 v 2 Stock United 
  39 Hatfield Heath Reserves 3 v 1 Old Chelmsfordians Third  
40 Heath Park A 6 v 0 E2V Technologies 
  41 Writtle Manor 1 v 2 Harold Wood Hospital   
42 Scotia Billericay Reserves 3 v 1 Shenfield Hollands
  43 Avondale Rangers 0 v 5 Sheering Reserves  
 
    

GROUP SIX  -  ROUND THREE

 
 
44 Sheering Reserves 2 v 4 Hatfield Heath Reserves
  45 Harold Wood Hospital 1 v 4 Scotia Billericay Res  
46 Haver Town 4 v 1 Wickford Rangers
  47 Heath Park A (Withdrawn) L v W Wickham Royals   
  
    

GROUP SIX  -  ROUND FOUR

 
 
48 Hatfield Heath Reserves 1 v 2 Scotia Billericay Res
  49 Wickham Royals  2 v 3 Haver Town  
   

 
   

GROUP SEVEN  -  ROUND ONE

 
 
51 Leigh Town Reserves (withdrawn) L v W Rochford Town Reserves
  52 Leigh Ramblers Third 0 v 3 Old Courthouse   
53 Southend Rangers 0 v 6 Southend Trojans 
  54 Southchurch Hall Old Scholars Res 3 v 2 Chalkwell Park  
55 Ford (Basildon) Reserves 3 v 6 Shoebury Town Reserves
  56 Rhodesia United 3 v 1 Leigh Revolution   
57 Thorpe Athletic 4 v 3 Byfleet Rangers Reserves
  58 Southend Collegians Reserves 1 v 3 Old Southendian Reserves  
59 Catholic United Reserves 3 v 1 Elmwood Old Boys 
  60 Sceptre Elite 3 v 0 Weir Sports Reserves  
61 Ekco Thames Park Third 5 v 4 Trackback 
62 Whitehorse Rangers 3 v 1 Heathfield 
63 Sparta Basildon 5 v 1 Signet United 
64 Rayford Athletic 5 v 0 FC Toro 
 
    

GROUP SEVEN  -  ROUND TWO

 
 
65 Sceptre Elite 2 v 0 Cupids Country Club 
  66 Catholic United Reserves 2 v 3 Ensign Reserves  
67 Rochford Town Reserves 1 v 3 Southend Trojans 
  68 Old Southendian Reserves 10 v 0 Ekco Thames Park Third  
69 Rhodesia United 2 v 1 Sparta Basildon
  70 Rayford Athletic 5 v 1 Thorpe Athletic  
71 Old Courthouse 3 v 2 Shoebury Town Reserves
  72 Whitehorse Rangers 4 v 5 Southchurch Hall Old Sch Res  
 
    

GROUP SEVEN  -  ROUND THREE

 
 
73 Sceptre Elite 2 v 5 Ensign Reserves
  74 Southend Trojans 0 v 1 Old Courthouse   
75 Old Southendian Reserves 2 v 0 Rayford Athletic
  76 Southchurch Hall Old Sch Res 3 aet 4 Rhodesia United  
 
    

GROUP SEVEN  -  ROUND FOUR

 
 
77 Ensign Reserves 2 v 3 Rhodesia United
  78 Old Southendian Reserves 1 v 0 Old Courthouse   
   

 
   

GROUP EIGHT  -  ROUND ONE

 
 
80 Aveley Working Mens Club 8 v 2 Ryan Third
81 Verona 3 v 0 Riverside Rangers
82 Northend Reserves 3 v 2 Phoenix 
83 Aveley Northend 3 v 3 Brabazon Sports (aet, 3-5 pens)
  84 Sungate A 7 v 2 Eastside Rovers   
85 Cromer Park 2 v 0 Newham United Third
  86 Hornchurch Town 0 v 16 Castle United   
87 New Ventos 0 v 7 Forest United Reserves
  88 Canning Town 0 v 1 Glendale   
89 Chingford Athletic 2 v 0 Celtic Vigo 
  90 M & B Club  III 3 v 2 Harold Wood Athletic B  
91 Upminster Fourth 2 v 4 Real Dagenham
  92 Clockwork 5 v 4 Emeronians   
 
    

GROUP EIGHT  -  ROUND TWO

 
 
93 Dagenham Working Mens Club 4 v 6 Castle United 
  94 Marlborough Veterans (withdrawn) L v W Clockwork  
95 Old Barkabbeyans (withdrawn) L v W Forest United Reserves
  96 Cromer Park 0 v 3 Aveley Working Mens Club  
97 Chingford Athletic 2 v 2 Brabazon Sports (aet, 1-4 pens)
  98 Real Dagenham 2 v 3 Sungate A  
99 Verona 10 v 1 Northend Reserves 
  100 M & B Club  III 3 v 1 Glendale   
 
    

GROUP EIGHT  -  ROUND THREE

 
 
101 Sungate A 0 v 4 Brabazon Sports
  102 Aveley Working Mens Club 3 v 4 M & B Club III  
103 Verona 1 v 0 Forest United Res
  104 Castle United 3 v 1 Clockwork  
 
    

GROUP EIGHT  -  ROUND FOUR

 
 
105 Castle United 2 v 1 M & B Club III
  106 Brabazon Sports 2 v 0 Verona  
   

 
      

Quarter Finals

 
 
107 Real Ravensdale 3 v 2 Tillingham Hotspur
  108  Brabazon Sports 2 v 1 Haver Town  
  109  Old Southendian Res 3 v 6 Castle United  
  110 Rhodesia United 1 aet 2 Scotia Billericay Res  

 
      

Semi Finals

 
 
111

Brabazon Sports

L v W Real Ravensdale 
  112

Scotia Billericay Reserves

W v L Castle United  

      

FINAL

 
 
Wednesday 25th March 2009
at Billericay Town F.C. Kick-Off 7:45pm
113

REAL RAVENSDALE

2 v 1 SCOTIA BILLERICAY RES  
               

 

 

 

 
 
 
CUP DATES
 
Prelimiary 27 Sep
Round 1 25 Oct
Round 2 22 Nov
Round 3 13 Dec
Round 4 17 Jan
Round 5   7 Feb
Semi-Finals 28 Feb

FINAL

25 Mar