Dave Strachan Knockout Cup
Harold Hill F.C. complete treble
06/05/19
Hit Counter: 3,405,594
Harold Wood Reserves lift plate
Following Saturday's postponement after the deluge on Friday left the Witham Town pitch unplayable the final was swiftly re-arranged 4 days later.
This game took a while to get going as both sides struggled with a difficult pitch. Groves, in Writtle's goal, had to be alert during the early stages, but neither keeper had a save to make during the opening half, as defences came comfortably out on top.
The first half's main excitement came when the referee lost his footing in the centre circle and tumbled to the ground, much to the amusement of the watching hordes (well 60 or so of them).
The second half was much more entertaining as the game gradually opened up. Writtle had the game's first shot on target, in the 55th minute, but Gannon, Harold Wood's custodian, saved the free kick comfortably. At the other end Jack Pitts tried an overhead kick but Groves was equal to it. Next to try his luck was Wood's substitute Chris Edkins, but he saw his half volley comfortably saved. However Harold Wood were not to be denied for long as Billy Marsh applied a neat finishing touch to a good move and his side were on their way. Writtle tried to hit back and Ryan Smith's perseverance almost paid dividends as he shot just over. On 85 minutes Edkins beat the Writtle offside trap and chipped home sweetly to ensure victory - and the silverware - was Harold Wood's.