Once again, the sun shone brightly on Fountain Trophies Cup Final day in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as Premier Division Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves  and Division One champions Cricklade Town met at Corsham Town in the 43^rd staging of the Senior Cup Final. Having already secured the Division One title and the Wiltshire Junior Cup Cricklade Town were looking to complete a unique treble. Their run to the final had seen them defeat three Premier Division sides along the way. They became the first team this season to defeat eventual champions Kintbury Rangers, beating them 3-2 on their own ground in the First Round. They followed this impressive result up with another 3-2 win over another Premier Division opponent, Park United. The Quarter Final saw them involved in another close tie with Premier Division opposition, eventually winning 2-1 against Calne Town Reserves to line up a Semi Final with fellow Division One side Lambourn Sports. It was to be a lot more comfortable passage for Cricklade in that Semi Final, winning 5-1 to book their place in the final.

Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves, who ended their first season in the Premier Division in a creditable eighth place, had played one game less to reach the final having been given a bye in the First Round. Their first match in the competition was a tight affair against fellow Premier Division side Faringdon Town, Bemerton eventually edging it 3-2 to progress to the last eight. In that Quarter Final their opponents were Division One side Bratton who they entertained in midweek under lights, running out comfortable 3-0 winners to make it through to the last four. In the Semi Final it was again Division One opponents in the shape of promotion chasing Down Ampney and it was to prove to be a much closer encounter, with Bemerton eventually emerging victorious thanks to a very late winner in an entertaining game that saw five goals scored. 

The final was predicted to be a tight affair between two in-form teams, and it proved to be just that. The first 20 minutes saw the two sides testing each other out without really creating any clear-cut chances for either side. As is often the way in a cup final, every challenge was keenly contested, and the referee Dan Hunt would be forced to produce a yellow card on several occasions throughout the match to calm things down. The first player to go in the book was Cricklade Town’s Alfie Presley on 19 minutes. Moments later Cricklade created the first real chance of the afternoon, the ball falling to Levi Cox on the edge of the box, but his shot went well over the bar without troubling Bemerton keeper Jamie Jones.

Cricklade were starting to get on top, and it would be they who eventually made the breakthrough ten minutes before half time. A defence splitting pass from Callum Parsons put Cox in behind the Bemerton defence, but he still had a lot to do with a Bemerton defender still on his shoulder. The experienced striker did well to hold off the defender to fire past Jones in the Bemerton goal to give Cricklade a 1-0 lead with his 25^th goal of the season. Three minutes later it should have been goal number 26 of the season for Cox, a surging run from Parsons saw him beat a number of Bemerton defenders and get to the goal line just outside the six yard box, his cut back to Cox found the striker just inside the six yard box for what looked like a certain goal but he somehow managed to put the ball over the bar as it remained 1-0. Parsons himself then went close to getting a second for Cricklade his powerful shot on goal went just over the bar with Cricklade ending the half very much in the ascendancy. 

Whilst Cricklade had ended the first half on top it was a different story after the break. Whatever Bemerton manager Jay Madden said to his players at half time it certainly had an impact as they came out looking to immediately get back into the game. Two minutes into the half Ethan Trigwell headed just over from a free kick. Moments later Archie Ingram fired just over from the edge of the area. A goal was coming and when it did arrive it was an absolute stunning goal, coming ten minutes into the half. A ball into the Cricklade box was half cleared by Cricklade but it fell to Hayden Wells on the edge of the area who hit an unstoppable shot on the volley from just outside of the box into the top corner of the net giving Cricklade keeper Will Gage no chance of saving to level matters up at 1-1. Bemerton were now in a confident mood and continued to take the game to Cricklade. It was not all one-way traffic through, on the hour mark Cricklade had their first real chance of the second half, Alfie Presley firing over from the edge of the box and it remained 1-1. That was to change 20 minutes from time when Cricklade gave away a penalty when Obinna Nwoke put in an unnecessary challenge on Trigwell just inside the box, bringing down the Bemerton winger giving referee Hunt no option but to point to the spot. Ryan Scott took the responsibility for the spot kick and fired the ball into the top corner of the net to give Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves a 2-1 lead.

With the clock ticking down Cricklade pushed to try and get themselves back into the game, but the Bemerton defence were holding firm, successfully dealing with a Cricklade corner and free kick into the box. Just as it looked like the cup would be heading south to Salisbury, as the game entered the final minute of normal time, there was to be late drama. A ball down the right found full back Harry Ayres in space and his run down the line saw him whip a dangerous low cross into the box which Callum Parsons met to turn the ball home for a late equaliser to break Bemerton hearts. There was further drama in injury time when Chris Jackson looked to be pushed in the back in the area but Cricklade’s claims for a penalty were waved away by referee Dan Hunt. Not long after the referee blew the final whistle as it finished 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes and penalties were going to be needed to decide matters.

After 90 minutes of football penalties is always a cruel way to decide matters but there has to be a winner and from grassroots to the World Cup Final this is the traditional way to settle matters. Invariably there are heroes or villains who emerge from the shoot outs and on this occasion it was to be no different. It is always better when that person is a hero goalkeeper rather than one individual player who misses his kick. The spot kicks were taken at the end closest to the club house with Bemerton Heath Harlequins up first. Jack Stevens took responsibility for that first kick but his penalty to keeper Will Gage’s left saw the keeper guess correctly to pull off a great save. First up for Cricklade Town was Alfie Presley, despite scoring 11 goals in just four games for Cricklade he was to fail from 12 yards, keeper Jamie Jones pulling off an excellent save to prevent his side going behind in the spot kick contest. Next up for Bemerton was Thomas-James Finn and he made no mistake with a well-taken penalty to put Bemerton 1-0 up in the shootout. That lead would not last long though as Alex Hammond cooly sent Jones the wrong way to level matters up and silence the Bemerton fans who had congregated behind the goal. 1-1.

Next up for Bemerton Heath Harlequins was Ethan Trigwell and once again Gage guessed right to pull off his second penalty save in the shootout. Next up was Cricklade Town manager Mani Roper and he showed all his experience to again send Jones the wrong way to give his side the advantage for the first time in the shootout, 2-1 Cricklade. Substitute Josh Hoey took responsibility for the fourth Bemerton spot kick but once again Gage was to make the save, this time with the help of his feet to prevent the ball going in after the initial save as it remained 3-1 to Cricklade with Bemerton now having just one more possible penalty, but only if Cricklade substitute Alex Henshall failed to find the net with Cricklade’s fourth penalty. The Cricklade player, who was once on the books of Manchester City and who played for football league clubs Chesterfield, Bristol Rovers and Ipswich Town before moving into the non-league game, made no mistake with his penalty, sending Jones the wrong way with his low penalty to the keeper’s right to ensure that the Fountain Trophies Cup was heading to Cricklade and a unique treble of the Division One league title, the Wiltshire Junior Cup, as well as the Fountain Trophies Cup. Congratulations to Cricklade Town on the cup win and that unique treble but congratulations also to Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves on making the final and serving up such an enthralling contest that they went so close to winning but for that late equaliser.

The individual medals were presented to the two teams and match officials by John Gingell, League President, aided by League Chairman Brian Busson, the last up to receive his medal was Cricklade Town captain Chris Jackson who was also presented with the Fountain Trophies Cup.

Result:  Cricklade Town 2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins Res 2 (Cricklade won 3-1 on penalties)

Man of the Match: Will Gage (Cricklade Town)

Teams

Cricklade Town:  Will Gage, Harry Ayres, Sam Bounds, Levi Cox, Chris Jackson, Tom Steele, Alex Hammond, Obinna Nwoke, Alfie Presley, Callum Parsons, Ellis McSharry. Subs: Alex Henshall, Lee Hayward & Mani Roper

Bemerton Heath Harlequins Res: Jamie Jones, Alfie Ingram, Maxwell Andrews, Matt Gunstone-Gray, Archie Downes, Jack Stevens, Ethan Trigwell, Dean Reynolds, Archie Ingram, Ryan Scott, Hayden Wells. Subs: Tom Feest, Thomas-James Finn, Josh Hoey & Harry Rogers

Attendance: 135

Following, the cup final presentation, Cricklade Town were also presented with the Phil Cook Division One Trophy, named after the League's former Fixture Secretary, who sadly passed away in November 2022. Phil’s wife Jose and son Matthew, who were guests of honour at the cup final,  made the presentations to the Cricklade players.

Another good cup final and successful afternoon. Thank you to Corsham Town for hosting the final and well done again to both teams and the match officials for providing an entertaining cup final.

More pictures from the Fountain Trophies Cup Final can be found on the League Facebook Group Page. In addition the excellent pictures taken by Bemerton's Tony Smith can be found on his website at efc.smugmug.com

Click on picture below to view PDF of the Cup Final Programme

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