RPM Records Supplementary Challenge Cup
Final
Southall Town 1 Didcot Town 2
Monday, 05 May 2003
A crowd of over 400 were present at Abingdon United?s Northcourt Road ground for the final of the Hellenic League Supplementary Challenge Cup Final between Didcot Town & Southall Town. Both sides found the windy dry conditions somewhat difficult to cope with at times and this caused a match of unpredictability and excitement.
Southall dominated the opening ten minutes, before Didcot could get into the game. Despite the early midfield dominance by Southall they failed to create a clear opening and it was Didcot's long ball game that looked to cause problems when they got behind the Southall defenders. The only shots on goal in the first 30 minutes were attempted volleys but nobody got the bounce right. After 30 minutes Didcot forced a corner that was only cleared to the penalty spot, the ball was quickly returned and in the goalmouth scramble Emsden prodded the ball into the net for the opening goal. Southall increased the pressure on Didcot and had a shot tipped over the bar and the ball kicked off the line from a corner. Play quickly moved to the Southall penalty area from another long ball upfield that leading goal scorer Ian Concannon controlled on the left side of the goal line and pulled the ball back to Chris Dore who was on the near post some six yards from goal. Despite the ball being slightly behind him he swung round and volleyed into the net for a second Didcot goal. Half time came with Southall frustrated at being two down despite having the better sway in midfield.
Half Time: 0-2
The second half was tighter with the Didcot defence closing play down higher up the pitch with much tighter marking. This made it very difficult for Southall to break out from this tight marking and the game seemed to be drifting, with no real pattern to the play. In the 71st minute Southall managed a quick controlled break with Christian Glynn controlling the ball well that pulled defenders towards him before crossing a gift for the now unmarked Meaker to score a simple goal to reduce the lead. This goal stung both sides into real determined efforts, Didcot threw on two substitutes to bolster their forward movement and their speed helped liven the game up. Southall grew in confidence and pushed players forward looking for the equaliser and the last twenty minutes saw a fast lively game with the ball swinging from end to end. Both goalkeepers had to make crucial saves Bircham for Southall turned well on the ball only to see his shot headed round the post. At the other end Concannon saw his only chance of the game fail when Southall keeper Kenny Lavender blocked his shot and a defender kicked it off the line. But Didcot held on to win their second major Trophy in two weeks.
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