Great Baddow overturn form book to win Cup

Ill-discipline and total lack of Respect to the Competition were the key headlines from this Cup Final that is best forgotten.

In a highly charged atmosphere that was littered with cautions and eventually saw three players dismissed a single goal just before the half time interval by Great Baddow’s Ross Kochan was enough to see Baddow overturn the form book and secure the trophy.

Haver Town F.C. went into this fixture as League Champions and were strong favourites having already comfortably beaten Baddow on two previous occasions this season.

The first half was a frenetic affair with a number of robust challenges. Michael Sanderson almost put Haver Town ahead in the first minute when he broke clear on to see a tame effort saved by the Baddow keeper.
Haver keeper Billy Eury denied Baddow striker Joe Nathanson but all to no avail as the flag was raised by the Assistant for off side.

Sanderson was creating panic in the Baddow defence but lack of composure in front of goal meant that he failed to convert any of the chances that were created.

Whilst Haver started the more dominant as the half wore on Baddow slowly got themselves into the game and Kochan twice went close to breaking the deadlock. Eury in the Haver goal was called on to deny both Kochan and Nathanson.

With the half drawing to a close a long ball forward caused some confusion in the Haver defence Eury misjudged the bounce and allowed Kochan to break clear and tuck the ball home into the empty net

Half Time Great Baddow F.C. Res. 1 Haver Town F.C. 0

The second half will only be remembered for the sheer lack of ill-discipline and a number of stoppages which led to 17 minutes of added on time.

A collision between Baddow keeper Danny O’Donoghue and Haver striker Sanderson saw a long stoppage in the opening minutes of the half which would eventually see O’Donoghue limp out of the game through injury.

The first flash point of the half came on 60 minutes when keeper Eury was caught by a late challenge, Eury reacted with a head butt which saw him receive a straight red card, his protests were turned aside as his reaction has no place on a football field.

Haver were soon down to 9 men when a wild over the top tackle by Jack Marson saw the midfielder receive a straight red for dangerous play.

Despite being reduced to nine men Haver still looked dangerous however with a reserve keeper in goal for Baddow who looked decidedly suspect they failed to test him.

In fact with a two man advantage Baddow should have killed the game off as numerous chances were created. Baddow were however then reduced to tem men as Elliot Armstrong received his marching orders for a second yellow card, having been cautioned earlier in the game he kicked the ball away.

Nathanson then saw an effort bounce off the cross bar late into injury time, but Baddow had to survive a nervous last few minutes as their goal was placed under siege which saw a few goal mouth scrambles. A linesmen flag then denied Haver an equaliser late on and finally after 62 minutes the Referee blew for time, with Baddow winning the game and upsetting the form book

Full Time Great Baddow F.C. Res 1 Haver Town F.C. 0