CHESHUNT 1 STEVENAGE BOROUGH 2
Herts FA Senior Challenge Cup Final
Wednesday 8th April 2009
Harry England reports.....
Cheshunt will feel hard done by to come away with runners-up medals from The County Ground in Letchworth after the most promising display seen in a while. Some controversial decisions allowed a sloppy Stevenage side to come away with the victory, despite the Ambers being the better side.
With many touting Stevenage as comfortable favourites, Cheshunt faced no pressure. Just eight minutes in, Ola Akinnawo had a great chance as he cut in from the right flank, but pulled his left-footed effort just wide of the near post. Three minutes later Ashley Taylor-Forbes' cross from the right was dangerously cleared by Mark Albrighton. Then came the opening goal for Cheshunt, as Charlie Simpson's long corner was nodded across the face of goal by Nick Thorogood. Julian Edwards poached the goal as he got the final touch, from on the line! Stevenage were being played off the pitch, although there was danger on fourteen minutes as Dayo Junaid's shot hit the top of the net as it dipped. Taylor-Forbes then had an effort watched high and wide by Jordan Gibson, before Simpson made a fantastic run, but couldn't finish. On twenty-two minutes, Cheshunt almost doubled the lead with a piece of play identical to the opening goal. Simpson's corner went deep, and this time Marc Clarey headed the ball into the floor. It bounced up, and Taylor-Forbes put the ball in the net, but the referee judged Edwards to have fouled the Borough 'keeper. A Cheshunt defender was then lucky to escape a card as he dragged down Callum Willock to deny him a chance at goal. The last action of the half saw Akinnawo hit a thunderous shot just over the bar.
Spirits were high throughout Ambers fans as the second-half commenced, and within seven minutes it should have been 2-0. There was a strong appeal for handball by Matt Clifford in the area, but nothing was given, then Taylor-Forbes somehow struck wide from just two yards! Five minutes later Cheshunt had the best chance to add to the total all game, as Taylor-Forbes squared to Akinnawo. He struck his shot under Gibson, but saw it rebound agonisingly off the post, and the ball was cleared for a corner by Liam McDevitt. The corner was swung out to Bradley Harrison, who's header was caught by Gibson, but there were shouts that the ball had crossed the line. Stevenage struck a goal back on sixty-four minutes with an equaliser, as Dino Maamria struck across the face of goal, past the unfortunate Ashley Harris. Simpson then had an excellent chance for Cheshunt, but he hit his shot disappointingly over, before Akinnawo made a superb recovery from going down, getting back up again, taking on two players, and then failing to finish his great work, with a poor shot. Gibson then came flying out of his goal, and the ball came to Edwards, but his goalbound effort was brilliantly blocked by Mark Albrighton. Maamria then popped up again for Borough to put his side in the lead, as he pounced on a loose ball from a goalmouth scramble to prod home. Then several strong penalty appeals for Cheshunt were all turned down by the referee, as Akinnawo was brought down by Gibson, and a handball by a substitute went unnoticed. Edwards then had a shot fantastically saved to Gibson's left as Cheshunt continued to push for an equalising goal, but it wasn't to be. In the final minute, Nick Thorogood had the world at his feet as he dribbled the ball through the penalty area, but he couldn't get a shot away, however there was another shout for handball turned down, and Stevenage won the Herts Senior Cup for the first time in their existence.
Cheshunt: Harris, Schillaci (Boyce 90), Parry, Clarey, Thorogood, Harrison (Bradford 88), Akinnawo, Churchouse, Edwards, Taylor-Forbes, Simpson (Tresadern 80)
Not used: Pelley, Beaupierre
Stevenage Borough: Gibson, Nwosu (O‘ Hanlon 82), Barnes, Atkins, McDonald, Swaine, Maamria, Cazaubon, Junaid (Snell 73), Cowell, Ulor
Not Used: Loftman, Mullen, Boreland
Attendance: