Cup Final line-up This midweek I decided to make a long-overdue return to Willen Road, Newport Pagnell. It's been over 7 years since my last visit (Purple Gain). However, the purpose of this Tuesday's trip was not for a Town home game, it was the Spartan South Midlands Division One Cup Final between Wellingborough Whitworth and Desborough Town.
Last weekend saw Desborough finally lose out on their title challenge when AFC Welwyn won at London Colney. Whitworth had narrowly missed out on a play-off spot despite beating Irchester 2-1.
Tonight's finalists have met twice in the league this season, both games ending in home wins. Desborough won 2-0 at Waterworks Field in October with Jeremiah Adams grabbing both goals. Wellingborough's 1-0 win at Victoria Mill came courtesy of a Tom Bailey goal early in the second half. On top of the league meetings, the teams also came up against each other in the Les Underwood Junior Cup, a game that Desborough won 1-0 through William Russell's goal.
Whitworth received a bye in the first round of this competition, whilst Desborough progressed via a 4-1 penalty shootout win after drawing 3-3 with Huntingdon Town. Round Two saw Whitworth defeat Buckingham 4-1. Desborough won 3-1 at Leighton Town Reserves. In to the quarter-finals, where Whitworth edged past Royston Town Reserves by the odd goal in five. Meanwhile, Desborough went to Moulton and returned with a 5-1 victory. Whitworth then squeezed past Langford by a goal to nil in the semi-final whilst Desborough had a resounding 4-0 victory at future champions, AFC Welwyn.
Last weekend saw Desborough finally lose out on their title challenge when AFC Welwyn won at London Colney. Whitworth had narrowly missed out on a play-off spot despite beating Irchester 2-1.
Tonight's finalists have met twice in the league this season, both games ending in home wins. Desborough won 2-0 at Waterworks Field in October with Jeremiah Adams grabbing both goals. Wellingborough's 1-0 win at Victoria Mill came courtesy of a Tom Bailey goal early in the second half. On top of the league meetings, the teams also came up against each other in the Les Underwood Junior Cup, a game that Desborough won 1-0 through William Russell's goal.
Whitworth received a bye in the first round of this competition, whilst Desborough progressed via a 4-1 penalty shootout win after drawing 3-3 with Huntingdon Town. Round Two saw Whitworth defeat Buckingham 4-1. Desborough won 3-1 at Leighton Town Reserves. In to the quarter-finals, where Whitworth edged past Royston Town Reserves by the odd goal in five. Meanwhile, Desborough went to Moulton and returned with a 5-1 victory. Whitworth then squeezed past Langford by a goal to nil in the semi-final whilst Desborough had a resounding 4-0 victory at future champions, AFC Welwyn.
Agbenu went closest in the 1st half Despite these two having scored over 200 league goals between them, it became apparent early on in this encounter that it wasn't going to be a nine-goal thriller. There was plenty of probing by both teams, looking for weaknesses in their opponents, but very little in the way of goalmouth action. Inside the first 10 minutes only Milton Ncube's dipping volley, comfortably gathered by Adam Honour, was even close to causing problems for either goalkeeper.
With possession statistics pretty much 50-50, Whitworth were just about edging it when it came to the last third. Remy Brittan was the next to try huis luck, latching onto a loose clearance after Tom Bailey's low cross. However, his strike was high and wide of the mark. Desborough's first attempt of any significance came in the 19th minute and was probably the closest either team had come to scoring, Dodzi Agbenu stooping to head a near post cross just wide of the post.
That attempt aside, the majority of half chances were at the opposite end. Jacob Thompson went on a decent run before shooting well over. Then towards the end of the half Aiden Garside weaved his way into the box before going down under a challenge amidst appeals from the Whitworth players. Nothing doing from the referee, however. The same player then also shot wide as the clock ticked onto the 45 minute mark.
HT Wellingborough Whitworth 0 Desborough Town 0. A very tight and cagey half of football. Neither keeper had to make a save of any note, although Wellingborough probably just about edged the overall possession. That said, Desborough looked happy to let Whitworth come on to them before looking for the runs of Bettles and Agbenu.
With possession statistics pretty much 50-50, Whitworth were just about edging it when it came to the last third. Remy Brittan was the next to try huis luck, latching onto a loose clearance after Tom Bailey's low cross. However, his strike was high and wide of the mark. Desborough's first attempt of any significance came in the 19th minute and was probably the closest either team had come to scoring, Dodzi Agbenu stooping to head a near post cross just wide of the post.
That attempt aside, the majority of half chances were at the opposite end. Jacob Thompson went on a decent run before shooting well over. Then towards the end of the half Aiden Garside weaved his way into the box before going down under a challenge amidst appeals from the Whitworth players. Nothing doing from the referee, however. The same player then also shot wide as the clock ticked onto the 45 minute mark.
HT Wellingborough Whitworth 0 Desborough Town 0. A very tight and cagey half of football. Neither keeper had to make a save of any note, although Wellingborough probably just about edged the overall possession. That said, Desborough looked happy to let Whitworth come on to them before looking for the runs of Bettles and Agbenu.
Desborough defend a corner Early on in the second half, Aiden Garside was again sent sprawling in the penalty area. Again the referee was having none of it, waving it away. As with the incident in the first half, I didn't have a clear view. To be fair to the players, they didn't protest too much.
Desborough then went through a period of having more of the ball, pushing Whitworth back into the own territory. The threat came mostly down the flanks, but the final ball was never accurate enough to cause concern for Charlie Nixon in the Wellingborough goal. In fact, if anything, there were fewer goalmouth incidents in the second period than in the first, at both ends.
With twenty minutes remaining Wellingborough launched an attack that saw the ball played into the corner of the penalty area. Tom Bailey and Town keeper Adam Honour went into the 50/50 challenge full-bloodied but perfectly fair challenge that saw the players collide, leaving both on the ground. Honour came off the worst, but thankfully both were soon up and able to continue.
Approaching the final 15 minutes it was Desborough's turn to appeal for a spot-kick when Agbenu went down under pressure. This time the calls were quite vociferous, but again the referee was unmoved.
Back at the other end, Liam Morrisey was on the end of a cross from the right but, leaning back, could only put his volley over the bar. To be fair, it was a half-chance at best.
The game looked very much as if it was going to end level and go straight but as the final whistle approached the Flourmen threw everything at Desborough, looking for a late winner. On 87 minutes, Ryan Baxter's in swinging corner from the right eluded everyone before clipping the crossbar and flying to safety. Then, into added time, substitute Emerson Lloyd was sent clear. Driving into the box he was about to pull the trigger when Aiden Bradshaw appeared from nowhere to get in a brilliant block, diverting the ball for a corner on the Wellingborough left. When that came across there was an almighty scramble before the ball was hacked off the Town line. That set up another corner, this time from the right. This was hung up towards the back post where Harry Bailey got up to head against the post with literally that final touch before the referee blew for full-time
FT Wellingborough Whitworth 0 Desborough Town 0. A game of very few clear cut chances and the majority of the goalmouth action crammed into the final few minutes. It all came down to a shootout from the penalty spot. A real test for both goalkeepers, neither of whom had been forced into much action throughout the game.
Penalty Shootout
Whitworth - Remy Brittan - Scored - 1-0
Desborough - Dodzi Agbenu - Over the bar - 1-0
Whitworth - Henry Dent - Over the bar - 1-0
Desborough - Aiden Bradshaw - Scored - 1-1
Whitworth - Vikram Mazumbar - Scored - 2-1
Desborough - Ollie Anderson - Scored - 2-2
Whitworth - Tom Bailey - Scored - 3-2
Desborough - David Peplinski - Scored - 3-3
Whitworth - Liam Morrisey - Scored - 4-3
Desborough - Will Russell - Scored - 4-4
Whitworth - Jamie Mitchell - Scored - 5-4
Desborough - Kai Magee - Saved by Charlie Nixon - 5-4
Wellingborough Whitworth win 5-4 on penalties
Wellingborough Whitworth: Nixon, Brittan, Baxter, Mazumbar, Heycock, Ncube(c), Holley, Thompson, T.Bailey, Morrisey, Garside. Subs: Gomes, Lloyd, H.Bailey, Dent, Mitchell
Desborough Town: Honour, Bradshaw, Peplinski, Randall(c), Davies, Ansell, Russell, Ledgway, Bettles, Agbenu, Anderson. Subs: Boath, Kennedy, Magee, Usman, Stratford
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 208
Entrance: £10.00
Programme: Included
Desborough then went through a period of having more of the ball, pushing Whitworth back into the own territory. The threat came mostly down the flanks, but the final ball was never accurate enough to cause concern for Charlie Nixon in the Wellingborough goal. In fact, if anything, there were fewer goalmouth incidents in the second period than in the first, at both ends.
With twenty minutes remaining Wellingborough launched an attack that saw the ball played into the corner of the penalty area. Tom Bailey and Town keeper Adam Honour went into the 50/50 challenge full-bloodied but perfectly fair challenge that saw the players collide, leaving both on the ground. Honour came off the worst, but thankfully both were soon up and able to continue.
Approaching the final 15 minutes it was Desborough's turn to appeal for a spot-kick when Agbenu went down under pressure. This time the calls were quite vociferous, but again the referee was unmoved.
Back at the other end, Liam Morrisey was on the end of a cross from the right but, leaning back, could only put his volley over the bar. To be fair, it was a half-chance at best.
The game looked very much as if it was going to end level and go straight but as the final whistle approached the Flourmen threw everything at Desborough, looking for a late winner. On 87 minutes, Ryan Baxter's in swinging corner from the right eluded everyone before clipping the crossbar and flying to safety. Then, into added time, substitute Emerson Lloyd was sent clear. Driving into the box he was about to pull the trigger when Aiden Bradshaw appeared from nowhere to get in a brilliant block, diverting the ball for a corner on the Wellingborough left. When that came across there was an almighty scramble before the ball was hacked off the Town line. That set up another corner, this time from the right. This was hung up towards the back post where Harry Bailey got up to head against the post with literally that final touch before the referee blew for full-time
FT Wellingborough Whitworth 0 Desborough Town 0. A game of very few clear cut chances and the majority of the goalmouth action crammed into the final few minutes. It all came down to a shootout from the penalty spot. A real test for both goalkeepers, neither of whom had been forced into much action throughout the game.
Penalty Shootout
Whitworth - Remy Brittan - Scored - 1-0
Desborough - Dodzi Agbenu - Over the bar - 1-0
Whitworth - Henry Dent - Over the bar - 1-0
Desborough - Aiden Bradshaw - Scored - 1-1
Whitworth - Vikram Mazumbar - Scored - 2-1
Desborough - Ollie Anderson - Scored - 2-2
Whitworth - Tom Bailey - Scored - 3-2
Desborough - David Peplinski - Scored - 3-3
Whitworth - Liam Morrisey - Scored - 4-3
Desborough - Will Russell - Scored - 4-4
Whitworth - Jamie Mitchell - Scored - 5-4
Desborough - Kai Magee - Saved by Charlie Nixon - 5-4
Wellingborough Whitworth win 5-4 on penalties
Wellingborough Whitworth: Nixon, Brittan, Baxter, Mazumbar, Heycock, Ncube(c), Holley, Thompson, T.Bailey, Morrisey, Garside. Subs: Gomes, Lloyd, H.Bailey, Dent, Mitchell
Desborough Town: Honour, Bradshaw, Peplinski, Randall(c), Davies, Ansell, Russell, Ledgway, Bettles, Agbenu, Anderson. Subs: Boath, Kennedy, Magee, Usman, Stratford
Ground Number: Re-visit
Att: 208
Entrance: £10.00
Programme: Included
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