Lonsdale and Colebrook Royals face-off for Division 5 Cup this Sunday

Cup final season officially kicks off this Sunday morning as the Division Five Cup reaches it’s climax with stalwarts Lonsdale taking on Colebrook Royals Reserves down at Aveley FC, kicking off at 10.30am.

For the side in the home dressing room on Sunday, Lonsdale are certainly a club who know a thing or two about cup finals, the club now fifty years into existence having formed back in 1972. Under Ian Scott’s stewardship, this weekend’s final will be their first since 2016 when a great run saw them into the Corinthian Cup Final, alas it was not to be on the day. This year’s run to the final took in a narrow 1-0 win away at Titans United in the Dagenham derby before putting in a strong showing against Ultimate Vision Reserves in the semi-final, running out 4-2 victors after a great first half in particular, confirming their place at Parkside this weekend.

In the opposite dugout this Sunday will be the a quickly rising Colebrook Royals Reserves side who have had one of those seasons to remember, already having scooped the Division Five league title a couple of weeks ago and now looking to round that off with some cup success too in front of their fans at Parkside. They started their run to the final in the first round with a 4-1 win against rivals Mansfield Rangers, renewing their battles of last season. In the quarter-finals, they were 3-0 away winners against Debden Sports A at Chigwell Lane to send them into the last four where a single goal in the game against Manford Way Reserves was enough to give Russ Pearman’s side the win and send them to the final.

Unbeaten in the league, Colebrook Royals Reserves would have to be considered favourites going into this game, though the league game between the sides was a narrow win in Royals favour, suggesting this could be a tight game. Whatever happens, we are sure to be kicking off cup final season in style this Sunday.