Harold Hill F.C. complete treble

Dave Strachan Knockout Cup Final

Harold Hill F.C. 4 Sandon Royals F.C. 1

White Notley F.C. again played host to the Dave Strachan Knockout Cup Final and for the first time in living memory no team from the top division were participating as Division One side Sandon Royals F.C. played Division Two side Harold Hill F.C. Both Clubs had seen off Premier Division opposition in both the quarter and semi-finals.

Sandon Royals had finished runners up in Division One whilst Harold Hill F.C. were in search of a treble having secured the Division Two title on Saturday and the League Cup a few weeks earlier.

The first half was an extremely tight affair with limited opportunities for either side.
A defensive slip gave Sandon an early opportunity but the final ball was poor which allowed the Harold Hill defenders the opportunity to get back and block out the danger.

George Shelvey then from nowhere hit the outside of the Sandon post, with keeper Andy Rodgers well beaten. Harold Hill then had a penalty appeal correctly turned aside by the Referee.

At the mid-point of the half Harold Hill gifted Sandon the lead. A cross from the left was dropped by keeper Roust and there was Mitch Giddings to place the ball into the net to give the Chelmsford side the lead.

Both Suters and Shelvey went close but Sandon Royals ended the half with a one goal advantage

Half Time Harold Hill F.C. 0 Sandon Royals F.C. 1

Harold Hill changed their formation at the start of the second half and Sandon Royals appeared to try and absorb the pressure and play on the break.
Keeper Rodgers made two easy saves from Shelvey before the game was turned on its head in a blistering 10 minute spell. A hotly disputed corner from the right caused mayhem in the Sandon Royals defence, the ball eventually fell to Siddy Clarkson to hook the ball home from close range. That was on 60 minutes. 2 minutes later and Harold Hill were in front. Suters superbly struck free kick from some 30 yards dipped into the far corner of the net with Rodgers rooted to the spot. Another 3 minutes later and it was three, Clarkson smashed a shot at goal and despite Rodgers getting both hands to the ball the strength of the shot burst through his hands and it he back of the net.

It was now all Harold Hill. James Hughes headed wide, before on 71 minutes a net bit of football from Harold Hill appeared to have petered out when skipper Urch smashed the ball against his own player and the ball found its way into the net 4-1.

Sandon looked a beaten side but to their credit that tried to force the game and both Muir and Cottis forced good saves from Roust in the Harold Hill goal.

Steve Connor brought the game to an end and Harold Hill F.C. completed the treble