Repton Park and Wanstead United earn cup glory at Thurrock

Corinthian Cup Final
Repton Park 2-0 Warren United

The cup finals season got underway on Sunday down at Thurrock FC’s Ship Lane ground with the Corinthian Cup Final kicking us off in the morning match. In a really closely fought first half, Repton got out of the blocks fastest with plenty of possession without turning that into too many decent goal scoring opportunities. The first good chance fell to Warren but their effort was palmed away by the Repton keeper. Moments later, Repton got their lead as an effort from outside the box seemingly took a deflection and nestled in the bottom corner for 1-0. Warren were the better side in the lead up to half time with lots of play in the final third without really testing the keeper.

After the break, Warren had a terrific chance to level early doors with a free-kicked bent around the wall but also just around the post too in a fast start to the half. As the match became stretched, the Warren substitute winger came close to levelling also as he cut across the goal but saw his effort saved at the near post. We then almost witnessed a terrific goal as Warren’s keeper came well out off his line and the Repton midfielder almost caught him out from 40 yards but his effort drifted wide. As the game wore on, just a couple of minutes from the end, Repton got a second that killed the tie with a great finish which made it 2-0.

Congratulations to Repton Park on their victory and commiserations to Warren United who made this another classic cup final between these two sides.

Trophyland Cup Final
Wanstead United 1-0 Westferry Elite

In the day’s second cup final, Wanstead United were looking to make it a hat-trick of cup final wins as they took on Westferry Elite in the Trophyland Cup Final. Westferry started the game the stronger of the two sides and looked very dangerous going forward, allied with their renowned defensive strengths at the back. The Wanstead keeper had to be sharp in the first few minutes, racing out to block a one-on-one effort. Wanstead responded strongly, making the most of their pace on the flanks with some terrific diagonal balls but they were unable to make the chances pay, despite heading onto the post, as the combative first half ended level at 0-0.

The second half started much like the first with both sides having good chances in a game where the goal led a very charmed life at both ends with the keepers very busy. Westferry then went very close as they curled an effort around the post before Wanstead’s nippy wide man thought he’d done enough, racing clear but the Elite defenders getting back in vast numbers to block the effort. You could have been forgiven at that stage for thinking that the game would end up goalless. Alas the Westferry hearts were broken on 88 minutes, a great reverse ball and cut back finding a man in red shirt waiting to finish at the far post, making no mistake to win it 1-0 for their team at the death.

Congratulations to Wanstead United on their third cup final victory and commiserations to Westferry Elite who played their part in a terrific match which could have gone either way in the end.