Stags End 67 Year Wait For Silverware

In what was one of the most highly anticipated games in the club's history the BDSL Division 4 Knockout Cup Final was played in front of a huge turnout of friends, family and fans of the Stags who aimed to end a 67 year cup drought. In blistering heat and difficult conditions the coaching staff and players knew any mistakes could see their dream end in an instant.

Eriswell began the game in a tentative fashion with Westbury utilising the hard press to great effect in the opening minutes. A misplaced pass under pressure from Westbury led to an early goal from the days underdogs and put Eriswell on the back foot. After around twenty nervous and error strewn minutes the Stags began to slowly take control after Westbury's hard work in the opening stages took effect on the legs and minds in the stifiling heat. LIAM FARNHAM was a thorn in the side of Westbury from the off and was unlucky not to open his account earlier on in the game, his raw speed looked to put the helpless Westbury defence to the sword. It would be Eriswell's talisman JASON MOORE who would pull the game back in their favour with two quick goals putting Eriswell in front after twenty-five minutes. A well placed corner in the latter stages of the first half from Captain SPIKE MURKIN was met by LIAM FARNHAM who with a bit of help from the opposition found the back of the net. At half time the Stags were on top at 3-1 and had played some fantastic football to settle the nerves.

The second half would continue in much the same vein as the first with a goal from the bullish and hard working STEVEN MITCHELL who had pounced on a loose ball at the back post like a tiger. He would make way shortly after, having put in a glorious effort for the team. MATT BARTON would replace him and didn't wait long to open his account for the day scoring his first ever cup final goal. He would add another not long after with a little help from the Westbury defence who made life easy for BARTON who picked the ball up and bent it round the keeper from just outside the box. SONNY SEAFORTH and LUKE TURNER would make their presence known after coming on for the tireless CHRIS SMITH and unwaivering TIM WILSON with SEAFORTH cooly sliding in a penalty that MURKIN would have been proud of. OLIVER ELLIS introduced in the final stages would also add to Westbury's misery with another goal after going close several times before.

At the final whistle Eriswell cried out in jubilation as the long wait was finally over and Eriswell were crowned Champions. Club captain DARYL MANNING who was unfortunate to miss out on the game was in attendance to lift the trophy with Captain on the day SPIKE MURKIN as cheers from the fans echoed throughout the stadium. A well deserved win after a shaky start.

Attention now turns to the league for Eriswell who need to avoid defeat and pick up a minimum of two wins from their remaining three games to secure a second title for the season.