Fountain Trophies Senior Cup Final, the two starting line-ups (pictures courtesy of John Cuthberston)
On a warm Saturday afternoon on the May Bank Holiday weekend the curtain finally came down on the difficult 2020-21 Season for our Premier Division sides with the final of the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup at Corsham Town FC between Corsham Town Reserves and Pewsey Vale. In an extremely tight final played in front of a sizeable crowd, the two evenly matched sides cancelled each other out for most of the ninety minutes but the game was ultimately decided by one moment of brilliance in the second half.
Pewsey Vale went into the game without their most influential player in James Guthrie, who had scored 17 goals this season, the cup final unfortunately clashing with his brother’s stag do, whilst Corsham also were without a few of the players who had helped them through to the final. Corsham started the brighter and almost created a scoring chance in the opening minute. Adam Shipman cleverly took a quick throw-in putting Ben Wickens in behind the Pewsey back line but a good tackle from Gareth Robb saw the ball cleared for a corner. The corner came to nothing, and Pewsey were able to clear their lines. The first sniff of a chance for Pewsey came on five minutes, Oscar Middleton cut in from the left and just as he pulled the trigger his effort was blocked and cleared by the Corsham back line.
Corsham started to dominate the early possession and created a decent chance on seven minutes, Jack Brain fired in a shot which was well saved by Louie Latouche in the Pewsey goal with the ball rebounding to Jake Dodge but he was again denied by Latouche and the ball was cleared. A few minutes later Dodge was put in by Adam Shipman but a good recovery tackle from Pewsey skipper Liam Edmondson cleared the danger.
Both sides were using the long throw to try and create opportunities, Corsham’s Dan Watts was getting impressive distance on his throws and whilst Adam Shipman was winning a number of the heading duals in the box the ball was not finding a teammate. Similarly for Pewsey, Gareth Robb was getting distance on his throws but the tactic was not really leading to any scoring opportunities in the box.
On 16 minutes a foul on Ben Wickens by Robb saw Dominic Kilbane fire in a dangerous free kick for Corsham but it was dealt with by the Pewsey defence who were being well marshalled by captain Edmondson. Whilst Corsham had looked the livelier they nearly fell behind on 20 minutes as the best chance of the game up until that point fell to Pewsey. Edmondson fired a ball in from the right which was flicked-on into the path of youngster Rory England who, with just Alex Croker in the Corsham goal to beat, hit his shot over the bar and Corsham fans breathed a sigh of relief.
The pace of England and his fellow young strike partner Oscar Middleton was starting to cause problems for the Corsham defence with the ball being put into the channels for the two youngsters to run on to. However, it was from a set piece that Pewsey went close again to scoring a few minutes later when a Ryan Thomas free kick nearly deceived Corsham keeper Alex Croker who just did enough to touch the ball behind for a corner.
Corsham were also finding the long ball over the top to be an effective way to get behind the Pewsey back line. It was from one such ball just after the half hour mark that saw Ben Wickens put through and just as a challenge went in he went tumbling in the box but the half-hearted appeals for a penalty were ignored by referee Adam Bewley. Pewsey then went straight down the other end and their dugout, as well as many of the spectators in the crowd, thought they had broken the deadlock when a cross into the box was met by a brilliant powerful header from Oscar Middleton, which saw the bottom of the net ripple, but the ball had in fact gone just over the bar and then rebounded into the wrong side of the net.
The last five minutes of the half saw Corsham step up their game and end the half as they had started. A neat interchange between Ben Wickens and Jake Dodge saw Dodge get round Robb in the Pewsey defence but some good rearguard action from Robb’s teammates saw Pewsey snuff out the attack. Two minutes before the break a free kick from the influential Dominic Kilbane was flicked on by Jack Brain but unfortunately for Corsham it was straight at Pewsey keeper Latouche. The final chance of the half saw another Corsham ball over the top find Wickens but he was well covered off by the Pewsey defence and the two sides retired to the dressing rooms with the game still looking for the first goal.
Half Time: Corsham Town Res 0 Pewsey Vale 0
The first chance of the second half came Pewsey’s way, as the ball fell to Harvey Tooth on the edge of the Corsham box, but his shot sailed way over the bar. Pewsey’s defensive line were certainly not afraid to join in their attacks and it was full back Robb who then had a chance on 55 minutes, but his shot was well handled by Alex Croker in the Corsham goal. His clearance out saw the ball reach Adam Shipman on the right-hand side and his run down the wing and powerful cross into the box eluded the Pewsey defenders and came back off the near post but the rebound was then fired wide of the goal as another chance went begging.
It was now end-to-end stuff as both sides pushed for that first goal. Ryan Thomas threaded a ball through to Oscar Middleton who raced clear of the Corsham backline but keeper Croker, who was having an excellent game, was alert to the danger and just got there in time to clear. Middleton again got behind the Corsham defence just after the hour mark, although his challenge on Corsham’s Jamie Cunning on another day could well have been deemed a foul but, having got passed his defender, he then fired over. Middleton continued to cause lots of problems for the Corsham defence and he was again put through on 65 minutes, this time it was Ryan Banks who set him up with a smart pass but just as he was about to get his shot away the challenge came in and he was sent tumbling in the box. This time it was Pewsey’s strong appeals for a penalty that were waved away and it remained 0-0 but not for long.
Harvey Tooth was fouled on the edge of the Corsham 18-yard box and Ryan Thomas lined up to take the free kick. His free kicks in the first half, whilst going close, had not really been out of the top drawer but this one in the 72nd minute was to be a very special one. Thomas fired in the kick, and it sailed in the top far corner of the net giving Corsham keeper Croker no chance. Given the way Croker had been playing it needed to be something special to beat him and this certainly was.
The game then threatened to get heated as a lunge from Corsham substitute Matt Ralph on Pewsey youngster Rory England, whilst connecting with the ball, was a bit reckless and incensed the Pewsey players. A foul was given and the Corsham player was yellow carded. Moments later Pewsey’s Connor Marsden got past Dominic Kilbane who brought down the Pewsey player right on the edge of the area. On other days a penalty might have been given and Pewsey’s Ryan Banks clearly felt it was inside the box and his protestations saw him sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes as he disputed the call.
With the extra man advantage Corsham pushed for an equaliser and Adam Shipman went close for Corsham ten minutes from time, but his effort was saved by keeper Latouche who, like his opposite number was having an excellent game. Corsham were unable to take advantage of the extra man for that ten-minute spell and it remained 1-0 when Banks returned to the field. Indeed, it was Banks who had a late chance to extend the lead in the first minute of injury time, put in by Oscar Middleton he was denied by a great save from Croker in the Corsham goal. The game was to end on a worrying note though when Corsham’s Matt Ralph fell awkwardly when looking to challenge Ryan Thomas in the air and it looked quite serious. The player was stretchered off the field as the two sides and the referee sportingly declared that the game would end there with Pewsey the winners. It has subsequently been confirmed by Corsham that the player had sustained a hip injury, but we understand he is ok and all from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League wish him a speedy recovery.
Full Time: Corsham Town Res 0 Pewsey Vale 1
Pewsey Vale captain Liam Edmondson holds the cup aloft (picture courtesy of John Cuthberston)
Well done to Pewsey and commiserations to Corsham, who put in a tremendous effort in a very close game. There was little to choose between the two sides and it took a piece of magic to decide matters in Pewsey’s favour.
Speaking after the game goal scorer Ryan Thomas, who himself has suffered from injuries during his playing career, commented that “over the course of the season today was just reward for all the hard work that everyone at Pewsey has put in but added it was a horrible way to end the game” and wished a speedy recovery to the Corsham player.
Pewsey Vale manager Alistair Tuttle was obviously delighted with the victory and made similar comments to Thomas about the hard work that had gone on behind the scenes at Pewsey since they voluntarily dropped back down from Step 6 of the pyramid. Tuttle noted:
“There are no words to really describe how I feel at the moment, especially given where we have come from and how we have had to get the club back up and running and out of the doldrums. The work that has been done off the pitch by the hard-working committee with the refurbishment of the clubhouse and the like has been superb. The way this season has gone on the pitch, whilst we thought we would have a good season, we never expected to do so well and who knows we could have done a league and cup double. We are looking forward to next season now, with the next big target being to re-establish our reserve side who aim to play in the Swindon & District League next season.”
Corsham Town’s Jacob Price was filming the action and the highlights can be viewed on their Youtube channel by clicking on the link in the picture below:
In addition to the excellent photos provided by John Cuthbertson included in this report more of John’s photos from today's cup final can be found on his website using the link below:
Finally, a big thank you to Corsham Town Football Club for hosting today's game and for the superb organisation of the days event enabling the game to go ahead in front of a sizeable crowd but in a safe manner for all attending.
To view the matchday programme for the Season 2020-21 Fountain Trophies Senior Cup Final click on the image of the programme.
There were some programmes left over from the game and anyone wanting a hard copy should contact League Secretary Jim Thorn at jim.thorn@wiltshireseniorleague.co.uk
The two team sheets from the cup final.
28 May 2021
