16th May 2023
Cherry Hinton vs Great Shelford @ The Tristel Stadium - Newmarket
Cliff Bullen Challenge Cup Final - Cambridgeshire League (both teams Step 7)
19:45 KO
£6 entry
Attendance - TBA
Half-time score: Cherry Hinton 0-2 Great Shelford
Goals:
Great Shelford: Impey - 5', 19'
Great Shelford: Newman - 77'
Final Score: Cherry Hinton 0-3 Great Shelford
Final game of the 22/23 football season for me, as I made the short trip down the A11 to the Newmarket Town ground to watch the Cliff Bullen Challenge Cup final, a competition held by the Cambridgeshire FA. The final was between two Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division teams in Cherry Hinton and Great Shelford, the latter a team I had seen recently as they comprehensively defeated Over Sports.
There was a good turnout in the ground, for what was a beautiful summers evening. There were no printed programmes, but the food hut was opened so I grabbed a cheeseburger, not having had dinner yet. Before long the teams were out, Great Shelford were in a different white and black strip, whilst Cherry Hinton were in yellow and blue.
KEY MOMENTS
CH = Cherry Hinton
GS = Great Shelford
5' - GS - GOAL (0-1) - Great Shelford get an early goal, captain Upcott pings a long ball forwards, the ball is allowed to bounce and Impey latches onto it and chips the onrushing keeper, the ball floating down and nestling into the net.
10' - GS - From a quickly taken free-kick, Newman is put through, he also goes to chip the onrushing keeper, but this time the keeper gets a hand to the ball to concede a corner. Newman swings in the corner, to his surprise the No. 8 finds himself with a free-header but nods over the bar.
11' - CH - A backheader from the Great Shelford No.2 is misjudged and the No.11 latches onto the ball, but the keeper is out fast to block the effort from point-blank range.
17' - GS - The No.7 steals the ball in the middle of the park then threads through Newman, he bursts into the box and hits a well struck ball that has the keeper beaten, but it crashes onto the upright and out, so close! In the follow-up play, Lawal takes the ball down the left, cuts into the box and powers in a strike at the near post which also appears to crash into the post and out.
19' - GS - GOAL (0-2) - Newman hits an accurate cross-field ball to release the open Impey, lurking on the left flank, he latches onto the ball, takes it into the box, cuts back to wrong foot the clamoring defender then side-foots the ball into the bottom right corner of the goal, a clinical finish to give Great Shelford a two goal cushion.
22' - CH - The No.11 sees the forward run from the centre-back, No.4, he passes to him and his gallops forwards, performs his own cut back and hits the ball from just outside the box, the effort flying just over the bar.
26' - CH - A swift counterattack ends with the No.12 having a strike from inside the box, but again the keeper is out quickly to close down the angle and make a good stop.
31' - CH - The No.7 crosses the ball into the box, it misses everyone in the middle and falls to the No.11, completely open he blazes over with his effort.
52' - CH - A series of three corners ends with one whipped in by substitute No.16, the No.8 rises high to get to the ball first, it initially looked in, but was narrowly wide, disturbing the wrong side of the side-netting.
63' - GS - Using the outside of his boot, Newman releases Lawal, he takes the ball forwards and as he prepares to strike, the keeper charges out to make a fine save.
66' - GS - Newman makes the most of a loose ball, taking it down the right then into the box he snaps off a fierce strike, which beats the keeper at the near post, but clatters into the post and out, 2nd time of the evening!
74' - CH - Cherry Hinton pressurise the Great Shelford box, the No.7 lays the ball back to the No.12 for a strike at the edge of the box, but his side-footed effort curls wide.
77' - GS - GOAL (0-3) - Great Shelford surely seal the game and the trophy, Lawal attacks down the left, cuts the ball back to Newman inside the area, and he slots in past the keeper, hitting the post yet again, but this time it is the inside of the post and the ball scoots into the net, well deserved for the young man.
86' - GS - A high ball in the box falls to Lawal, he turns and shoots but his effort travels wide of the post, thankfully for the rooted keeper.
88' - 2 x RED CARDS - A moment of madness at the end, a questionable tackle from a Cherry Hinton player results in some enthusiastic shoving, and results in one player from each side being handed out a red card, and in the fray Impey is left nursing a painful looking nosebleed.
That was a fun game for the final one of the season, with some well taken goals and some drama at the end. Overall, Great Shelford deserved that one, they were clinical in front of goal, created numerous good chances, played the long ball to a tee and largely bossed the midfield. However, Cherry Hinton had their moments, they had a strong 10 minute spell in the 1st half after going 2-down, and the substitutes gave them added some added impetus at the start of the 2nd half, dominating the play for the first 20minutes. However, the Great Shelford defense held firm, and after absorbing this pressure they began to hit Cherry Hinton on the break to eventually seal the win, and the trophy. Congratulations to Great Shelford, I've seen them twice now this season, they look a good footballing outfit and are fun to watch, so from what I've seen the trophy looks well deserved. I hope that they are able to have a strong 23/24 season, and I wish them all the best.
And with that, that is me signing off until the pre-season friendlies, the plan for next season is plenty more Thetford Town games of course (UP THE TOWN!!), more Col U home and away days (UP THE U'S!!), as well as the usual smattering of Anglian Combination games as they are always bloody good fun! In the meantime, I hope everyone has an enjoyable summer, over and out!
Line-Ups:
CHERRY HINTON (alphabetical order): Lewis Cross, Michael Dennis, Conor Diver, Antwan Ebanks-Blake, George Gillies, Sam Goode, Robert Livesey, Kyle Moran, Philip Peachey, Benjamin Sawyer, Jonathan Zammer. SUBS: Lewis Carter, Harry Farrow, Joshua Hubbard, Luke Vesey.
GREAT SHELFORD (alphabetical order): Jonathan Barber, Thomas Barham, Sam Clare, Jake Crow, Benjamin Hagger, Nick Impey, Jordan Lambert, Michael Lambert, Tobiloba Lawal, Mason Newman, Luke Upcott (C). SUBS: James McCabe, Simon Swinton, Jake Wayne, Daryl Wisbey.
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