Walthamstow Reserves secure Senior Cup at Brisbane Road
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Walthamstow Reserves have lifted this season's Senior Cup following a 2-1 cup final victory against FC Baresi in front of a bumper crowd of over 500 at Brisbane Road.
With the two sides having had close affairs in the two league fixtures this term, a closely fought game was expected with FC Baresi but we hadn't quite expected the feast of football that would deliver itself in the first half.
Stow started the game at an electric pace and had a great chance in the first minute of the game before earning themselves a penalty in the seventh minute for a trip in the box. But Eric Andoh was the Baresi saviour, pulling off a good stop low down to his left to keep things level.
But it only took a further few minutes for Walthamstow to open the scoring as Issa Sidibe benefited from a great run down the right, the pull back falling gratefully at his feet to sweep home the opener on twelve minutes.
It took just ten further minutes for the next goal to arrive, this time for FC Baresi, and it was Marvin Hamilton-Omole who produced the goods once again for his club, his corner appearing to fly directly in at the far post as the game was levelled up at 1-1.
Undeterred by that set-back, five minutes later, Matthew McDowell made amends for his earlier miss to put his side again yet again on the half hour, after good work from Agyiri, McDowell was on hand to slot home from close range to regain the lead at 2-1.
FC Baresi saw their best spell of the game either side of the break with Lewis Jones being incredibly unlucky with his effort just after half-time which found the woodwork, bounced back off Duah in the Stow goal and away for a corner!
Duah was called upon to make a couple of smart saves from Baresi who had definitely upped their game after the interval and were looking to move the ball with much more intent, creating a couple of good chances but unable to convert those into goals.
As time pushed on in the game and the game becoming even more open, Baresi will rue their fortunes once again as a crazy spell saw them have between three and four chances in a matter of seconds with Stow throwing bodies on the line to stop a number of goalbound efforts and Duah making a number of point blank saves.
The referee's whistle blew shortly after to bring an absorbing cup final to a close and confirm that Walthamstow Reserves were this season's Senior Cup Champions! Congratulations to all involved.