Upshire are the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy CHAMPIONS!!

Upshire are the new county champions after a sparkling display in Friday night's Essex Sunday Junior Trophy cup final at Aveley, defeating the previously unbeaten Rochford Sports & Social, 3-1.

The match didn't start in the most positive of fashions as Rochford were faster out of blocks, opening the scoring in the very first minute to put Upshire behind. But the response from the Corinthian club was simply sublime with almost complete dominance of the remainder of the half, creating plenty of chances and making the Rochford stopper the busiest player on the pitch. The equaliser, when it did come, was a goal of much class as a superb pass through from the midfield set Ross Paterson clear down the left flank and he raced in on goal to slot home, levelling the game up at 1-1 at the break.

The second half started quite slowly and Upshire had to clear off their own line very early on as Rochford looked to put their foot down. But as the game wore on, you suspected that the youth and exhuberence of the Upshire side would eventually prevail, using the pace in the wide areas to good effect. Then in the 85th minute, the crucial moment came - another ball slicing open the Southend side's defence for Paterson to once again show his class and slot home, sparking wild celebrations. And there was still time for more as in the second minute of stoppage time, a free-kick was floated into the box and Tyler Paterson fired in from a rebound to put the icing on the cake in a 3-1 victory.

Many congratulations must go to a very talented Upshire outfit who done themselves and Waltham Abbey proud on the night. I'm sure many more big occasions are on the horizon for this club!

Photos from the match will be available in a couple of days time