Dave Strachan Knockout Cup
Harold Hill F.C. complete treble
06/05/19
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Godfrey double seals victory for CT66
League leaders CT66 claimed the Division One League Cup following a 4-2 victory over Focus Ferrers.
Focus Ferrers started brightly with Taylor Lang shooting wide early on. On 6 minutes Travis Wood from CT66 saw his effort pushed wide of the upright by Focus keeper Chris Claridge.
A goal mouth scramble on 15 minutes saw Ross Maguire go close for Focus, but they soon broke the deadlock 10 minutes later when confusion in the CT66 defence allowed Matthew Hennessy to nip in round the keeper and slot the ball into the unguarded net.
It took CT66 less than two minutes to restore parity. Darren Godfreys effort on goal was superbly blocked by the Focus defence, however from the resultant corner on the right the ball found its way into the Focus net. Is was not clear whether the ball went straight in or if Ben Brittnal got something on the ball to deflect it home. One for the dubious goal panel to decide upon.
Focus created two good opportunities as the game drifted towards half time. Ben King and Hennessy combined but a fine save from Tom North denied Focus their second, Lang then managed to sneak in and round the keeper but full back Jack Sanders was on hand to clear the ball from under the goal posts.
On 40 minutes CT66 scored the goal of the game, a great team effort as Sanders fed Ricky Search wide on the left his first time cross was met on the half volley by Adam Tilley whose shot thundered into the top of the net
Half Time CT66 2 Focus Ferrers 1
Within 5 minutes of the re-start Focus Ferrers were again level thanks to another defensive error in the CT66 defence which gifted their opposition an equaliser. This time it was Lang who took advantage as he tucked the ball home.
On 57 minutes CT66 had regained the lead through skipper Darren Godfreys cool finish inside the 18 yard box. Three minutes later and Godfrey had netted a second.
There was an air of inevitably following CT66 fourth as the second half drifted with neither side creating much in front of goal.
The alert linesmen with his band of raucous followers behind him denied Godfrey a hat trick on two occasions for off side.
Focus tried in vain to rally late as both Lang and Hennessy saw shots well saved.
A comedy of errors in the Focus defence should have seen CT66 net a fifth late on after a wayward clearance Search somehow hit is shot wide from no more than 5 yards with the goal gaping.
The Referee Dennis Spurling who had a quiet evening brought the game to an end bang on 90 minutes a shock to many given that in the last three finals there had been in total 37 minutes of added on time
Thanks Dennis.
Amid muted celebrations Godfrey lifted the trophy for the Canvey based side
Full Time CT66 4 Focus Ferrers 2