Robertsbridge Charity Intermediate Cup Final
The Clappers, Robertsbridge
Admission including Programme: £3.00
Attendance: 65 (rough headcount)
Match Rating: 4
I always enjoy visits to the Robertsbridge Charity Cup finals, always relatively well attended with a nice friendly feel of a clubs from local villages contesting some silverware. Having missed the last couple of seasons competitions due to being on holiday, I decided to take in my second game in two evenings with this year's competition.
The Clappers remains just a recreation ground, but with a pleasantly rural setting. The pitch has been rotated 90 degrees since my last visit, so that tall trees line one length, a cricket outfield (separated from the football pitch by wooden fencing) behind the other, a train line that is in the process of being restored for steam engines above a grass bank behind one goal, whilst behind the remaining goal, some houses are visible in the distance. A four page programme was provided on entry, and was perfectly adequate to preview the game.
Robertsbridge United finished their league season in fifth place in the 11 team East Sussex League Premier Division, following eight wins and four draws from their 20 league games. On league status, they would probably have been classed as favourites to lift the trophy this evening, as they play a division higher than Northiam 75. But Northiam have had a great season, and already assured of promotion to the Premier Division, they have a winner takes all game on Saturday to look forward to against Bexhill AAC to decide which of them will be crowned champions of Division One - a draw would not be enough for Northiam. Tonight would be the second of three cup finals for Northiam, who narrowly lost in the East Sussex League Cup Final against Premier Division Rye Town last month, and will play Bexhill AAC again in the final of the Hastings FA Junior Cup next week.
On a sunny but chilly evening, this was an entertaining, competitive game for long periods, and Robertsbridge were guilty of missing several gilt edged chances to open the scoring, but they finally did a minute before the break. After an initial shot was blocked, Curtis Coombes struck a well placed shot from towards the edge of the area into the bottom corner, with the keeper flat footed.
Robertsbridge doubled their lead on 55 minutes, following a long punt downfield, Guy Ballard headed the ball over the keeper and into the net. It all seemed to be relatively plain sailing for Robertsbridge at this stage, with a two goal lead that should really have been more convincing. But just two minutes later, Northiam were awarded a penalty, when a defender pushed a Northiam player as they waiting for a long aerial ball to fall to them in the box. Scott Embery slotted the ball low in the left side of the net. That certainly livened the game up, and although Northiam plugged away, Robertsbridge did look fairly comfortable until three minutes from time, when Northiam were awarded a free kick following an ugly foul tackle. The ball was dinked into the penalty area, and Steve Housago guided the ball with his head just inside the post.
Neither side looked like scoring in the remaining minutes, and with fast fading light, the match went straight to penalties, following the ABBA format. Both teams saw their second penalties saved, but in the sixth round, a Robertsbridge player missed, while Northiam scored, to cue the celebrations as they lifted the cup - a scenario that looked unlikely as they fell 2-0 behind in the second half.
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