Last match report of the season!
Mr Richardson was the referee for today's Division 2 Cup Final at Stevenage Borough FC. J.Pratt and C. Hall were the linesmen. J. Batchledor was the fourth official.
Lion's starting eleven: Gardner, Fildes, French, P.Farr, Crisp, Dye(C), D.Jefferies, Burnage, Canning, Collins, Harvey.
This was the fourth successive final for the Lion's and a return to Stevenage Borough after last years final was played at the Herts FA County Ground in Letchworth. The Lion's were back in the Away dressing room where it all started as underdogs four years ago.
Station had beaten the Lion's twice in the league and look set to win the Division Two league title. However the Lion's ran them close last week at 3-2 in the league. So the Final was perfectly poised.
Breachwood were keen to apply the early pressure. Captain Dye showed the St George's Day spirit taking no prisoners in the tackle. Canning struck at close range, but straight at the keeper.
In the first twenty minutes, Station were limited to only a few counter attacks that brought assured saves from Gardner. Pete Farr was up for the battle, and was again adept at passing out of defence to set up Burnage to run with the ball on the right wing. French's no nonsense approach cleared the ball from any danger, Andy Fildes anticipated any long balls from Station with perfect interceptions.
Harvey accelerated past the left full back to the bye line, having spotted Collins and Canning arriving at the back post, crossed for Collins, whose header came back out off the post.
Canning, Jefferies and Crisp all had individual shots at goal from the edge of the box as the Lion's tried to take advantage of their early ascendancy.
Burnage took a free kick from the edge of the box that was saved by the keeper.
Danny Jefferies put in John Harvey who muscled past the defender into the box, only to be brought down in a heap, Lion's appealed for the dead cert of a penalty but the linesman seemed to hesitate in raising his flag, the moment passed and referee Richardson waved play on.
From then on the game started to turn.
With fifteen minutes left in the first half, the Station right winger began to find space, enough to whip in a cross to the back post for a low diving header to give the first sucker punch.
Goals two and three arrived in quick succession before half time and were almost exact carbon copies of each other. The ball played left to right, stretched the Lion's defence. On both occasions two crosses to the far post found an attacker arriving late to head low to score.
Station lead 3 nil at half time.
Collier replaced the injured Pete Farr early in the second half and was quickly into action to interlink with Burnage down the right.
The Lion's tried to pick up their passing game with Dye,Crisp and Jefferies in the midfield. Harvey proved it takes more than a knock to the head to stop him as worked his socks off trying to find the opening. Collins was still proving to be a handful as he attacked down the left and won a couple of corners. Jefferies and Crisp flashed shots over the bar.
Burnage picked up the ball on the half way line and went on a jinking run straight through the midfield. He looked poised to shoot from the edge of the box but passed wide to Collins who was still proving to be a handful attacking down the left and managed to win another corner.
As the Lion's took more risks to push forward, it was inevitable that they would be hit with a counter attack from Station, Gardner tipped one such attack round the post, but had no chance when a Station forward had space inside the box to pick his spot for the fourth goal.
Ten minutes from time Harrison and Pearson replaced Crisp and Canning. Pearson's fresh legs began to cause Station a few problems on the left as the Lion's attempted to get some consolation from the game. Harrison came close with a header at the back post from a Collins corner, but the ball went agonisingly wide of the post.
Station won the game with a convincing 4 nil scoreline but the Station captain was quick to admit the scoreline flattered them a little. In the end it was a game where Station clinically took their chances and the Lion's had the Hoodoo on theirs.
Still there is always next season.....................
Substitutes not used: D.Farr, Abrahams.
Special mention to our injured players who were unable to take part today but who have made a great contribution all season:
Jose Sanchez, Adam Jefferies & Pete Jordan.
A big thank you from the team to all our supporters who made the journey from Breachwood Green to support the Lion's (I don't know all the names!) and especially to those who have supported us all season in all weathers, including: Beeny, Greg, Ash, Merg, Steve, Colin,Laura &The Dyes, The Jefferies.
The team would also like to thank our sponsors this season: The Red Lion Breachwood, Screwfast & Paul Broomfield Aquatics
