Heytesbury FC ended the season on a high by beating Division One champions The Duke to claim The Spring Cup – sponsored by Gooding Accounts Ltd at a sunny Meadow Lane, Westbury. Heytesbury won the final 9 – 8 on penalties after an entertaining 3 – 3 draw as the Trowbridge Windows sponsored Trowbridge and District League came to a close.
The afternoon started on a sombre note as a minutes silence was observed to mark a family bereavement of a Duke player.
It was The Duke who sprang into action with Sam McQueen firing wide in an attack straight from the kick off. From the resulting goal kick, Heytesbury broke down the right through Myles Woodward who beat the full back and crossed into Jake Wright who slammed the ball past Tom Lucas in The Duke goal to give Heytesbury the perfect start to the final.
Heytesbury were on the front foot now and two minutes later a great turn on the edge of the box by the excellent Jake Wright gave him space to lay the ball to Sam Roberts who shot narrowly wide.
This seemed to spur The Duke into action and they forged two good chances in the next five minutes with a free kick blasted over by Mathew Friendship and also an effort by Matt Mead which was also fired over the bar as they tried to get a foothold into the game.
In an exciting opening 15 minutes Heytesbury then had two more chances of their own to increase the lead with Callum Hotine heading wide from a corner and a minute later Myles Woodward shot over following more good work in the box from the ever dangerous Wright.
The Duke pulled level on the 20 minute mark. Joe Moloney, who was causing the Heytesbury defence problems burst into the box and was brought down by a defender to earn his team a penalty. It was Moloney himself who stepped up and calmly placed the ball past Sam Spratt to equalise.
In an end-to-end first half, Heytesbury responded and The Duke had reason to thank keeper Lucas twice in the next two minutes as he safely gathered a shot cum cross by Woodward and had safe hands when he collected a free kick from Reece Collyer.
From the resulting goal kick The Duke pushed forward again and Moloney worked his way down the right and found Matt Mead in the middle just outside the area who look up and fired home past Spratt to give The Duke a 2 – 1 lead.
On the half hour mark The Duke had keeper Lucas to thank again as he came out to the onrushing Sam Wright. Wright dived forward to try to head a bouncing ball past the keeper but Lucas did well to push the ball wide of the post for a corner. The corner was punched clear by Lucas and the ball fell to Collyer on the edge of the box but he could only blast the ball over the bar.
After 37 minutes Joe Moloney had an excellent chance to increase The Dukes lead but he flashed his shot wide from just outside the box and would have been rueing his miss just four minutes later when Heytesbury levelled the final again.
After 41 minutes a melee in The Duke penalty area saw Jake Wright being hauled to the ground by Duke defender Mathew Friendship. Referee Neil Hawker, who had an excellent game came over to the touchline to consult his assistant George Rabczak and after a brief conversation came back onto the pitch and pointed to the penalty spot. If Reece Collyer felt any nerves, it didn’t show as he stepped up and placed the ball past Lucas to make the score 2 – 2.
Just before half time Heytesbury had an excellent chance to retake the lead as the ball was thrust through to Jake Wright who found himself one on one with Lucas but this time the keeper had the upper hand, pulling off a great save to deny the striker and keep the scores level at the break.
The second half was an even affair with half chances for both sides but both failing to convert. Matt Mead fired over for The Duke on 51 minutes and Jake Wright went close for Heytesbury on the hour mark when he controlled the ball well with his chest in the area, turned and volleyed the ball wide.
After 65 minutes Jake Wright, who was causing real problems for The Dukes defence all afternoon had another shot saved by the excellent Lucas who parried the ball out to Sam Wright who then saw his shot cleared off the line by Duke defender Brandon Wheeler.
Just after Heytesbury found themselves down to ten players for ten minutes as ref Hawker sent Adrian Vintileanu to the sin bin for dissent as tempers began to fray in a very competitive match.
The Duke failed to make their advantage count however and had keeper Lucas to thank again with 15 minutes left as he denied Myles Woodward with another great save when he was put through by Jake Wright.
Two minutes later the officials did well in controlling a situation when tempers of both sides threatened to boil over when players from both sides confronted each other briefly when tackles started to fly in.
When the game restarted it was The Duke who had the bast chances to grab victory in normal time. With 5 minutes left on the clock Matt Mead showed great composure in the middle of the park, controlling the ball well and sublimely chipping the ball to find Moloney who twisted and turned in the Heytesbury box but was crowded out before being able to shoot.
With 3 minutes left Tom Blackman broke free for The Duke but was denied by a great saving tackle by Adrian Vintileanu who injured himself in the process. With a minute of normal time remaining Joe Moloney had a free kick for The Duke but fired wide and a minute later the final whistle was blown to take the match into extra time.
The first half of extra time was an exciting affair with chances and goals for both teams. After 5 minutes the excellent Jake Wright was fouled on the edge of the box. Adrian Vintileanu took the free kick and hit the ball through The Duke wall, the ball found its way to Woodward who was caught offside.
Four minutes later Tom Blackman got on the end of a cross for The Duke but his effort was well saved by Sam Spratt.
With five minutes left of the first half of extra time it was Blackman who gave The Duke the lead again. A Gary Tugwell free kick was headed onto the Heytesbury post in a crowded penalty area and, when the ball rebounded to Blackman, he forced it home.
Three minutes later The Duke had a chance to make the game safe but a wild shot from Adam Gough was hit well wide.
Heytesbury were never going to just lie down and they equalised again with a minute left of the first half of extra time with the goal of the game. Jake Wright burst forward and exchanged passes with Sam Wright before hitting the ball home for his second goal of the game.
The second period of extra time had a few half chances for both teams but the only clear-cut effort fell to The Dukes Ashley Easton who, after winning the ball wide left of the area had a shot well saved by Spratt who pushed the ball over the bar to take the final into a penalty shootout.
The first five penalties from both teams were all converted successfully. For The Duke Joe Moloney, Tom Lucas, Matt Mead, Drew Adams and Gary Tugwell all scored. For Heytesbury Warren Moreland, Kurt Dawson, Sam McEntee, Sam Spratt and Adrian Vintileanu all hit the net to take the raise the tension of the final and take it into a sudden death shootout.
Tom Whyte stepped forward for The Duke and scored.
Sean Snook stepped up for Heytesbury and equalised.
Tom Blackman walked forward for The Duke and gave his team the advantage again.
Callum Hotine must have been nervous when he stepped up as he missed his penalty in The A & B Cup final the previous week, but his nerves never showed as he made amends and fired home.
Brandon Wheeler increased the tension even further as he stepped up and scored again for The Duke.
Jake Owen, who also missed last week for Heytesbury also showed real character when he walked forward and calmly scored to make it 8 – 8 on penalties.
Mathew Friendship then walked forward for The Duke and saw his penalty saved by Sam Spratt to cheers from his teammates.
While Friendship was being consoled by his teammates, Sam Roberts stepped forward knowing that if he scored his team would be victorious. He calmly placed the ball past Lucas to win the game 9 – 8 on penalties and start the Heytesbury celebrations for winning The Spring Cup – sponsored by Gooding Accounts Ltd.
The Trophies were presented by League committee members Mr Colin Kennerson and Mrs Ruth Fulton.
The Man of the Match was awarded to Jake Wright of Heytesbury.
