Tommy Thompson Cup Final - University of Essex v White Notley
05 May 2008

The Comeback final of all...

Forget the 2006 FA Cup Final, forget the 2005 Champions League Final. The game witnessed today goes in the same bracket of the greatest of comebacks. Essex University Reserves and their White Notley counterparts travelled to Little Oakley on a quite glorious day that brought a feeling of summer being just around the corner.

The teams arrived with confidence high in both camps with two presentations being conducted to announce White Notley as Division 1 runners up (by goal difference only) and to crown the University of Essex as the champions of the inaugral Border Premier League Reserves Champions.

With the celebrations muted, it was time to get on to the real business of the day; University of Essex were looking to end the season on a high with an historic double whilst White Notley would use this game as a springboard to how they may perform in a league with the University next season.

Both teams started out with a traditional 4-4-2 with all wide players having the freedom of a wide pitch. Both teams also boasted powerful players in both defence and attack. The first half started quite nervously with both sides trying to feel the other out. The pacy frontmen of Notley attempted on two or three occasions to get in behind the University defence but under the stewardship of captain Dan Maher, the back four of Harris, Peck, Durell and Maher were more than a match for the speed that both strikers posessed.

Over time, the University started showing why they were, indeed, the champions by using wingers Mike Dean and Ghanian international John Mensah to put Notley's full backs under pressure. With these runs, the University managed to force a series of corners. From the sidelines, it seemed that this is where the University posed the most threat with Peck going close on a couple of occasions as well as a clearance off the line from an attempt from Mike Dean after a spillage from the under-performing Notley 'keeper. Along with the wingers, the midfield dynamos of Luke Waugh and Mark Bullock made a number of delicate through balls to the front line which almost paid off in one instance but with Gerard taking one too many touches, the Notley 'keeper pulled off a fine stop to deny him.

It seemed that both teams were going into half time goal-less when suddenly the perfect opportunity presented itself to the University. Gerard chased what seemed a lost cause across the box and put the Notley centre-half under unnecessary pressure. After successfully dispossessing him, the powerful striker was sandwiched between two Notley players. The assistant referee's flag was raised and put across his chest to symbolise a penalty for the Univerity. The resident penalty-taker, Asif Chaudery, stepped up and, after a long delay resulting in a Notley player running his mouth a bit too much - earning him the first booking of the game - cooly slotted his penalty in the same place to send the University into the half-time break 1-0 to the good.

The half-time team talk was simple. Keep it tight, don't concede and pressure the Notley 'keeper. Jaffa Cakes were passed around the dressing room to keep up the players energy levels.

Unfortunately, the advice was not heeded and the presence of the Jaffa Cakes had a negative effect on the team and soon after the interval, the University had conceded a somewhat sloppy goal to level the match. It seemed that the team were still in the changing rooms and a few unforced errors and mislaid passes put the University 'keeper (Purvis) and his defence under unwanted pressure. The pressure indeed paid off for Notley as they scored two quick goals to make the scoreline 3-1 with little over 20 minutes remaining. All those on the bench, as well as the 30-strong crowd from the University seemed to think that their opportunity of the Double had gone....

The third goal seemed to finally send a rocket up the backsides of all of the University players. The change in attitude led to a large vocal support from the fans, honorary coach Dave Williams and sub 'keeper Davis trying their best to motivate the players. With little over 15 minutes to go, Gerard finally got into his stride. Once again, he chased down a seemingly lost cause and put the Notley 'keeper under too much pressure to allow him to make another error; this time shanking his clearance behind him allowing Gerard to simply stroke the ball into the unguarded goal.

Belief set in and the University could have felt aggrieved that they had a strong penalty claim turned down both the referee and his assistant after Dean seemed to be bundled over carelessly just inside the Notley area. The frustration set in and this saw the usual culprit Sean Harris seeing a yellow card for quite a nasty challenge on the Notley full back.The University carried on piling on the pressure and then, with about 10 minutes left, the turning point which one feels turned the game.

Notley gave away a somewhat tedious foul out of the right wing which led to the Notley centre-half simply asking the referee's assistant 'Why?'. After intervention from the referee asking what the problem was, the powerful centre-back said 'It's 'coz he's a F*****G W****R', thus earning him a straight red for foul and abusive language - to the delight of the University supporters who quite rightly barracked him for his downright stupidity. From the successive free-kicks, the University levelled the game after a viscious pinpoint delivery from Bullock found Will Peck by the edge of the six-yard box whos diving header rasped into the keepers bottom corner sending the fans into ecstacy.

Extra-time loomed but with the high rising temperatures, the University wanted to kill the game off and they duly did with less than five minutes left. Gerard cooly and deliciously slotted home to send the players, the subs, Dave Williams and the crowd into raptures.

And so, with the University calmly playing out the time, the referee blew the full time whistle and the University had achieved the near impossible. They were Double Champions for the first time.

Team: Purvis, Harris, Peck, Durell, Maher (c), Dean, Bullock, Waugh, Mensah, Chaudery (Hibbert 86), Gerard.

Subs not used: Davis, Carter, Sheikh, Bailey

Highlights:

The sending off bollocking from University fans
Dave Williams 'Mourinho-esque' celebration after drawing level.
Purvis' weak celebratory Cava
Gerard's cool finish

Lowlights:

Jaffa Cakes at Half-time

Well done to all!

Special thanks to Steve Davis for this report