Old Southendian claimed the
first piece of County Cup silverware in their 102-year history as
they recorded a 3-0 triumph over Rochford Sports & Social at a
wintry Park Lane.
The 2007/08 Essex Sunday Veterans Cup Final began amid light
snowfall as Canvey Island was enveloped in the icy conditions that
gripped south-eastern England over the weekend, but that failed to
take the shine off of the success for Old Southendian joint-manager
Chris Bunce. "As a club, this is quite a feat to have won a
County Cup after one hundred years - it's just brilliant," he
declared. "Normally we're knocked out of the competition by the
end of September!"
Southendian's boss was also thankful the fixture was able to take
place at all: "I'd like to thank the officials, and also Canvey
Island F.C., for doing everything they could to get the game
played," he said after Gulls officials cleared the pitch
markings of snow to ensure that the match could be staged.
This was a tie of contrasting styles, with Old Southendian, led by
47-year-old former Southend United and Charlton Athletic winger
Garry Nelson, displaying plenty of fancy tricks, whilst Rochford
took a more direct approach, epitomised by a late tackle in just the
fourth minute from Jason Neal that saw him cautioned.
Rochford goalkeeper Joseph Jones made a fine block to push away
Stuart Grant's fierce drive and then effected a low save when Dale
Brewerton stooped to head Nelson's beautiful swinging cross
goalwards. In between, Kevin LePage's slight deflection of Kevin
Smith's corner was cleared off of the line at the other end.
The former Southend High School pupils took the lead on 31 minutes.
Perry Ames cut inside from the right, forcing Jones to parry his
strong effort away, and Jason Thomas reacted quickest to convert the
simplest of tap-ins. Neal almost replied immediately, by Old
Southendian shot-stopper Chris Chapman stood up well to block his
goalbound attempt with his legs. The half ended with Duncan Raggett
unleashing a thirty-yard thunderbolt into the side-netting.
After the break, Rochford could have levelled, first when Alex
Goldsmith twisted and turned in the penalty area before shooting at
Chapman, and then as substitute Fred Shelton headed Mark Terry's
cross towards the corner of the goal, only for the custodian to
exert himself at full-stretch and tip the ball away.
Brewerton, the other half of the Old Southendian managerial duo, was
close to extending his team's lead when he lobbed the goalkeeper,
but the ball dropped agonisingly wide of the post, although Thomas
was more precise ten minutes into the second half as he completed a
sweeping move by touching home Raggett's centre.
The goal effectively ended Rochford's challenge as the leaders
dominated the remainder of the chances, buoyed-on by a vociferous
support, with Bunce commenting, "We are really grateful to our
support, not just today, but in the semi-final at Newham United as
well." Brewerton's shot from the edge of the area seemed
destined for the goal, but replacement 'keeper Russell Greenfield
palmed to safety, then Andy Chambers blasted Raggett's pass wide of
the left-hand upright.
There was still time for a third goal, and it arrived in the final
minute. Dave Neale burst through on the counter-attack, passed the
ball inside to Brewerton and watched as the front-man arrowed his
shot into the top right-hand corner.
"I thought we deserved to win today," Bunce admitted.
"They had their share of possession, but they did not deliver
many dangerous crosses, and Stuart Grant and Gary Willis were superb
at the back all day. This is Jason Thomas' first season as a Vet and
he and Duncan Raggett were excellent, whilst Garry Nelson is just
class."
Old Southendian: Chris Chapman, Gary Willis, Stuart Grant, Chris
Bunce, Jason Thomas, Duncan Raggett, Simon Jackson, Perry Ames, Dale
Brewerton, Andy Chambers, Garry Nelson. Substitutes (repeated):
Simon Harwood, Paul Gooding, Dave Neale, Tony Morton, Chris Sorrell.
Rochford Sports & Social: Joseph Jones, Paul Jenkins, John
George, Chris Leech, Francis Galliano, Alex Goldsmith, Mark Terry,
Jason Neal, Kevin LePage, Kevin Smith, Mark Liddell. Substitutes
(repeated): Simon Barker, Fred Shelton, Daryl Brough, Ronny
Docherty, Russell Greenfield.
Bookings: Old Southendian: Chambers (67, foul). Rochford: Neal (4,
foul).
Referee: David Auvache.
Assistant Referees: Peter Rawlings and Richard Wilkins.
.jpg)
