A late goal from substitute
Philip McKean settled a tight Essex Saturday Veterans Cup Final and
sealed a long-awaited crown for Ford (Basildon) at New Lodge.
"I sprinted through the offside trap before hitting a stunning
finish to win it," was McKean's analysis of his crucial strike,
which may have been a little exaggerated, but it was certainly an
accomplished finish, angling a low shot past 'keeper Philip
Langridge just two minutes from time and earning the silverware in a
battle that was difficult to split.
"We all thought it was going into extra-time," explained a
more relaxed McKean later. "It was such a tight game and there
were just hardly any chances. We're really pleased to have grabbed
the match at the end. Vichouse were a real test and we've shown
great character to win the game."
The first opportunity of the evening arrived on eight minutes, a
fine Vichouse move seeing Steve Lloyd run down the right flank
before sending a low cross to David Kirby who shot into the gloves
of Darren Budd from ten yards.
The only other chance of the first half arrived shortly after the
half-hour mark. A neatly laid-off free-kick by Sports' Graham Hall
saw Steve Warner's fierce strike pushed wide and, from the resulting
Hall corner, Ford failed to properly clear their lines and Kirby's
effort was blocked on the line by Paul Wood.
It was Ford, twice beaten in their previous Saturday Veterans
finals, who began to take a slight ascendancy after the break.
Wood's snap-shot flew just over the top and Stuart Murray hit a low
free-kick at Langridge as the game entered its latter stages.
The break-though arrived on 88 minutes, McKean fantastically timing
his forward run before latching onto a through ball and slotting
home past the advancing goalkeeper from fifteen yards.
It proved not only to be the winner, but also the last action of the
match, although Vichouse were reduced to ten men in the dying embers
of stoppage time as a frustrated Paul Clark was dismissed by referee
John Jago.
"We've waited a while to get our hands on this trophy,"
said delighted Ford boss Brian Gardiner after the game. "It
wasn't much of a spectacle, but finals can be like that sometimes.
Vichouse played well, as did we, but we both cancelled ourselves out
at times."
Gardiner continued: "I brought on Roger Gorbell up front and he
caused a few problems. It's a substitution that has worked a few
times and it helped make the difference in the end tonight as
well."
Ford (Basildon): Darren
Budd, Gavin Salmon, Mark Keune, Terry Carlile, Cliff Moorcraft,
Clive Rew, Glen Hardwick, Matthew Howard, Richard Beeching, Ken
Carlile, Paul Wood. Substitutes (repeated): Gary Moxley, Philip
McKean, Stuart Murray, Roger Gorbell, Philip Brandon.
Vichouse Sports: Philip Langridge, David Kirby, Paul Judd,
Graham Hall, John Warner, John Goodman, Alan Bromage, John Hills,
Kieron Hamlin, Steve Warner, John Taini. Substitutes (repeated):
Eddie Smith, John Lloyd, Martin Coughlan, Steve Lloyd, Paul Clark.
Bookings: Ford: McKean (64, unsporting behaviour). Vichouse: Paul
Clark (64, unsporting behaviour).
Sent-Off: Vichouse: Paul Clark (90, violent conduct).
Referee: John Jago.
Assistant Referees: David Sharpe & David Brignall.
Fourth Official: John Burdett.
Attendance: 158.
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