Review of 1st cup final weekend

With the sun shining and the pitch looking fabulous as always, the scene was set on Sunday for a great day of cup final football.

Division One Cup Final – M&B Club vs Leyton Green

The morning final saw two of Division One’s finest meet. An early Leyton Green goal on 10 minutes got the goal scoring underway as a low cross from the right was powerfully turned in from six yards out. Bakers battled well but were undone on the stroke of half-time as a shot from the edge of the box squirmed through the crowd and into the net to make it 2-0 at the break.

The second half started as the first had finished with Green grabbing another goal. This time a corner was only half cleared and the ball back in was eventually scrambled in at the near post to make it 3-0. Baker then saw their best spell of the game and were rewarded with a goal on the hour with a good finish to make it 3-1. Alas a comeback was too much for them and Green held out to be crowned Division One Cup Winners.

Photos from this match are available online

Division Two Cup Final – FC United of Hornchurch vs FC Mexico

The afternoon’s final was played out in blazing sunshine and saw the treble finalists, FC Mexico, taking on another of the season’s cup specialists in FC United of Hornchurch. And it was FC United who got the scoring underway with a quite spectacular long range effort early on in the game that got the crowd roaring! United had the better of the exchanges in the opening 40 minutes but saw their defences breached twice just before the break. Firstly a penalty box scramble was turned home and then on the stroke of a half-time, a drive from the edge of the box took a deflection and crept inside the post to make it 2-1 at the break.

In the second half, FC Mexico started to gain some control of proceedings and got a deserved third as the striker was played through and from the edge of the box, executed a superb lob over the onrushing keeper to make it 3-1. The drama wasn’t finished yet though as FC United picked up their second with about 10 minutes to go and set up a grandstand finish. Both sides threw caution to the wind and could have scored more but 3-2 was how it finished as FC Mexico secured the cup.

Photos from this match are available online

Division Three Cup Final – Wanstead United vs London Fire Brigade

With the sun setting, Division Three’s promotion hopefuls, Wanstead United and London Fire Brigade arrived to compete for the Division 3 Cup. London had the better of the opening exchanges and got opening goal after 30 minutes when a cross from the left was headed back across goal at the far post and into the top corner. Wanstead got back on terms with the last kick of the half as Wanstead’s striker went clean through but was adjudged to have been fouled in the box and a penalty awarded along with a second caution for the defender. The penalty was despatched to level it up at the break.

In the second half, Wanstead United took some degree of control with their man advantage and eventually ground down their hard working opponents. An excellent run down the left channel saw the ball pulled back to the edge of the box where a team-mate was on hand to drive into the net to lead 2-1. London Fire Brigade then threw everything at Wanstead and could have levelled only for a great save to deny them at the last as Wanstead held on to be confirmed as Division 3 Cup Winners!

Photos from this match are available online