County Cups

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ESSEX FA SENIOR CUP
 

Supported by  

   Essex
 
 

SENIOR CUP

FINAL

Chelmsford City  2  v 0  Concord Rangers
Tuesday 31 March 2009 
The London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Stadium
  7:45pm k.o
 
Chelmsford City celebrated their fifth Essex Senior Cup Final success after a 2-0 victory over a spirited Concord Rangers side at Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.

The Clarets, who were beaten finalists twelve months ago, avenged their defeat to Southend United with a professional display against a Concord outfit that performed resiliently until headers from Dave Rainford and Ricky Holmes inside the final 20 minutes finally broke their resolve.

"I'm pleased to have won this Cup final, it's what we set out to do at the start of the season," beamed City manager Jeff King after collecting the magnificent thirty-inch silverware. "It's always nice to win a trophy. We weren't really thinking of the 2008 game - that's gone."

King's team were the first to threaten as they dominated possession during the first ten minutes with Bertie Brayley swivelling inside the 'D' to slash a shot just past the angle of post and crossbar. Concord's opening gambit saw John Easterford's rasping shot charged down from Nicky Cowley's audaciously chipped free-kick.

A lengthy period of relative inactivity, punctuated by two wayward Rainford efforts, was brought to a conclusion when Brayley put Ollie Berquez clear one-on-one with Adam Rafis. The former Ipswich Town trainee attempted to slide the ball underneath the goalkeeper, who managed to block the effort with his legs.

Ashley Harrison was brought into action on 38 minutes as he back-peddled to tip Nick Skelton's header over. From the resultant Yohance Lewis corner, the central defender was unable to get the required purchase on a back-post header.

The half drew to a close with Chelmsford crafting the move of the match, Ian Cousins finding Holmes, the youngster chesting down for Berquez, who swept into the path of Jon Keeling. The diminutive midfielder, however, lost his footing and Rafis was able to gather the loose ball.

Ryman League Division One (North) Concord responded with a glut of chances at the beginning of the second period. Prolific forward Danny Heale flicked a header from a long Kevin Watson throw wide before Lewis was presented with an excellent chance to score on the hour mark. The Charlton Athletic academy product scythed through the Chelmsford defence, but his finish lacked composure and flew wide of Harrison's goal.

Rangers captain Nicky Cowley was unfortunate as he collided with a team-mate in nodding Heale's left-wing centre past the far post, although that was the signal for their Blue Square South opponents to raise their own game.

Rainford's thirty-yard shot skimmed the roof of the net at the mid-way point of the half and then Kevin James saw a driven effort deflected wide. The pair were instrumental on 72 minutes as the Clarets broke the deadlock, James delivering a free-kick into the heart of the penalty area for Rainford to power a header past a helpless Rafis.

Four minutes from the end, Rangers threatened to draw level when Watson propelled another massive throw into the box and Heale's header was acrobatically turned away by Harrison.

That allowed City to confirm their first Senior Cup success for six years in the second minute of stoppage time. On this occasion it was Rainford who provided the cross from the right and Holmes, who has attracted the attentions of a number of Football League scouts, was positioned to plant a header into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.

"I was pleased to keep a clean sheet," King said. "I thought that we were the better side throughout, and although they did have a couple of chances, I thought we would be O.K. if we kept believing in what we were doing. All credit to Concord, they gave their all, but that was exactly what we expected."
 

Pictures courtesy of Essex Sports Agency

 
Chelmsford City: Ashley Harrison, Kevin James, Ian Cousins, Andy Duncan, Steve Ward, Dave Rainford, Oliver Berquez, Jeff Minton, Jon Keeling, Bertie Brayley, Ricky Holmes. Unused Substitutes: Jason Hallett, Spencer Knight, Chris Moore, Steve Robinson, Danny Gay.

Concord Rangers: Adam Rafis, Jon Turnbull, Kevin Watson, Taylor Sinfield, John Easterford, Nick Skelton, Piers Wixon, Nicky Cowley, Elliott Buchanan, Danny Heale, Yohance Lewis. Unused Substitutes: James Hussey, Dave Collins, Danny Scopes, Joe Gardner, Michael Fenttiman.

Bookings: None.

Referee: Andrew D'Urso (Billericay).

Assistant Referees: Lloyd Wood (Dagenham) and Adam Crysell (Braintree).

Fourth Official: John Hopkins (Wickford).

Attendance: 931.
 
  First Round  
 

To be played on or before 13 Sep

  
 
  1 Tiptree United 4 v 1 Mauritius Sports Assoc  
  2 Takeley 3 v 0 London APSA
  3 Stansted 2 v 1 Romford

(Stansted Removed)
  4 Harwich 4 v 1 Hullbridge Sports
5 FC Clacton 8 v 1 Clapton Report
 
  Second Round  
 

To be played on or before 11 Oct

  
 
  1  Wivenhoe Town 3 v 0 Bowers & Pitsea Report
  2 FC Clacton 2 v 1 Harwich & Parkeston Report
  3 Southend Manor 4 v 2 Barkingside
  4 Saffron Walden Town 1 aet 1 Romford Report

Romford won 4-5 on penalties
  5 Basildon United 2 v 4 Burnham Ramblers
  6 Eton Manor 1 v 6 Stanway Rovers
  7 Takeley 1 v 4 Halstead Town Report
  8 Barking 3 aet 3 Tiptree United

Barking won 5-4 on penalties
 
  Third Round  
 

To be played by Nov 8

  
 
  1 Harlow Town 0 v 5 Billericay Town
  2 Tilbury 2 v 3 Canvey Island
  3 Waltham Forest 3 aet 2 Stanway Rovers Report
  4 Southend United 2 aet 3 Redbridge Report
  5 Great Wakering Rovers 1 v 3 A.F.C. Hornchurch
  6 Witham Town 2 v 0 Ilford Report
  7 Grays Athletic 7 v 0 Maldon Town
  8 Heybridge Swifts 2 v 0 Barking Report
  9 Chelmsford City 7 v 1 Southend Manor Report
  10 Waltham Abbey 1 v 4 F.C. Clacton
  11 Colchester United 2 v 1 Aveley Report
  12 Wivenhoe Town 5 v 0 Thurrock
  13 Dagenham & Redbridge 7 v 0 Halstead Town
  14 Concord Rangers 2 v 1 East Thurrock United
  15 Braintree Town 1 v 3 Brentwood Town
  16 Burnham Ramblers 0 v 1 Romford Report
 
  Fourth Round  
 

To be played by 6 Dec

  
             
  1 Brentwood Town 0 v 2 Chelmsford City Report
  2 Dagenham & Redbridge 5 v 1 Witham Town
  3 FC Clacton 4 v 0 Wivenhoe Town
  4 Waltham Forest 1 v 2 Redbridge
  5 Colchester Utd 6 v 1 Romford Report
  6 Grays Athletic 2 aet 3 Canvey Island
  7 Concord Rangers 3 v 0 Heybridge Swifts
  8

AFC Hornchurch

3 aet 2 Billericay Town
               
  Quarter Finals  
 

To be played by 17 Jan

  
               
  1 FC Clacton 1 v 2 Concord Rangers Report

13 Jan-7.45pm
  2  Redbridge 2 v 0 Canvey Island Report

21 Jan-7.45pm at Thurrock FC
  3 Colchester Utd 6 v 0 AFC Hornchurch Report

14 Jan-7.30pm
  4

Chelmsford City

2 v 0 Dagenham & Redbridge Report

12 Jan-7.30pm
               
  Semi Finals  
               
  1 Redbridge 1 v 2 Concord Rangers Report

Tue 3 Mar - 7.45pm
  2 Chelmsford City 2 v 1 Colchester United Report

Mon 16 Feb - 7.30pm
               
  FINAL  
 

Tuesday 31st March 2009

 

at Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. Kick-Off 7:45pm 
 

1

CHELMSFORD CITY

2 v 0 CONCORD RANGERS