HEARTY GOODFELLOW FC 0 - 0 ROYAL TRENT FC Hearty Goodfellow FC - Won 7-6 on Penalties.

SCREAM ENTERTAINMENTS
LEAGUE ONE - CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

Report Compiled by Niall Simmons.

HEARTY GOODFELLOW FC 0 - 0 ROYAL TRENT FC
Hearty Goodfellow FC - Won 7-6 on Penalties.

The first Cup Final of the 2023-2024 NDSFL season saw Hearty Goodfellow take on Royal Trent FC for the right to lift the League One Challenge Trophy.

Before kick off, a minutes silence was observed to remember League President, JOHN WARD who sadly passed away recently.
Today’s game being played in his memory.

John must have been looking over us as for the first time this year, the sun was shining on cup final day as supporters of both teams arrived to get behind them.

The game got underway and the early exchanges were treaded with caution. Two very good sides who are both chasing promotion to the Premier Division wanted to weigh each other up and not give any opportunity to their opponents.
Both teams passed the ball round well looking to be the first to get that clear cut chance.

That chance fell to Trent on 11 minutes as Levi Tindall breaks down the right wing, he cuts a ball into the box but the first to react is Taylor Davis in the Hearty Goal as he pounces on the ball. Straight up the other end and Hearty are awarded a free kick on the right. It’s crossed in by Leonard Acatrinei and met by the head of Danny Moreton but it goes over the bar.

Both sides are still knocking the ball around well and timing their tackles to perfection. The next chance fell to Hearty when on 16 minutes, left back Luke Hand makes a charging run into the Trent half, outpaces the defender and finds Craig Ashby who’s shot is blocked and goes behind for a corner. Hearty again show attacking intent as Morgan Lewis heads over from the resulting corner.
Hearty are enjoying a good spell of play and on 19 minutes, Danny Moreton again goes close from a corner, this time heading just wide.
2 minutes later and Trent are on the attack. Connor McCallum receives the ball from a throw on the right turns brilliantly in the box and hammers a shot at goal but again Taylor Davis is down to it and makes the save. Trent are slowly getting their grip on the game and on 24 minutes, are appealing for a penalty but it’s waved away by referee Florin Condrus. Trent are again on the attack and this time it’s the turn of Michael Sadler who hits a shot that goes just wide.

Connor McCallum is the target man for the throw ins and this time he receives the ball from one on the left to charge forward and hit another shot that’s just wide. The final chance of the half comes on 34 minutes and it’s probably the most clear cut yet to Trent as Sadler is threaded through, his shot is again well saved by Davis, Levi Tindall is first to the rebound and his shot is blocked off the line by Danny Moreton.
Half Time 0-0. Both sides took their time to get a feel on the game and as the players have a drink, there is nothing to separate them. Hearty having a good spell on the attack before Trent get a foot on the game and start coming forward with some attacks of their own.

The first chance of the second half fell to Hearty when Liam Watts found himself in but his shot is a tame one and is well saved by the keeper. Seconds later and Craig Ashby hits a more fierce shot but can only hit the side netting.

Michael Sadler then receives the ball in the box for Trent and hits a shot towards goal by Hearty defender Gaz Wykes is on hand to block it behind for a corner.
Liam Watts again goes close for Hearty on 57 mins but his shot is dealt with well by the keeper. Another penalty shout on this hour mark and this time is for Hearty but the referee again waves the appeals away.

Reigan Duffy was looking bright on the ball and was getting forward well. His through ball finding Steven Foster in the Hearty box but his shot sails over the bar. Sam Forsyth, the Trent skipper was a rock at the back for his side today and he was soon to be called into action again as Danny Moreton, now playing as a striker, makes a charge for goal but Forsyth is equal to him and excellently mops up the danger.

On 65 minutes Hearty thought the had the breakthrough. A throw in comes into the box and Liam Watts is on hand to head home from close range but assistant referee Alex Tarr is flagging for a foul throw and the goal is chalked off much to the disappointment of the Hearty faithful.

This only seemed to fire Trent up as 2 minutes later on 67, Jack Millard has a powerful shot that again is well saved by Taylor Davis, the ball then lands at the feet of Sadler but his effort is deflected wide for a corner. Both sides are ticking now and are both going for it.

With 73 minutes on the clock and Millard is through, he charges towards go but is brought down by Davis who had committed himself to come out for the ball. No hesitation from the referee as he points to the spot. Unfortunate for Davis who was having a fantastic game. Ross Thacker steps up to take the penalty but his shot is saved by the excellent Davis who avenges himself to save the penalty. Connor McCallum is first to the rebound but can only fire over, Hearty are off the hook.

76 minutes and again Trent have a golden opportunity inside the box, this time Davis is penalised for picking up a back pass which some thought was unintentional.

Thacker again steps up to smash a direct free kick at goal but Danny Moreton put his body on the line for his team to block the powerful effort. That one is going to sting in the morning as the physio is waved on.

Things started to calm down a bit in the final 10 minutes as neither side wanted to make a mistake. 88 minutes and Trent are awarded a free kick, this really could be the last opportunity. Joe Joe Wilson stepped up but his powerful effort just goes over the bar. Both sides had their chances but some excellent goal keeping from both sides, especially Taylor Davis saw the game brought to its conclusion with the score 0-0. It was now down to the dreaded penalties to decide who would lift the trophy.

The shootout saw both sides miss their first penalty as both keepers made great saves. A good rally of penalties converted followed before Davis again took centre stage making the save that would have had Hearty on the cusp but linesman Alex Tarr had judged Davis to have been off his line to early and the retake was buried.

Davis yet again was the star of the show though as he saves Trent’s 7th penalty leaving Kye Wilson the chance to win it for Hearty.

He picked his spot well and fired home the kick that sealed the deal and meant Hearty Goodfellow FC are crowned League One Challenge Trophy Champions.

Todays man of the match selected by referee Florin Condrus goes to Royal Trent captain Sam Forsyth who’s dominant defensive display at centre half was a credit to him and his team.

Pictures: Niall Simmons.