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After several weeks of drama and tension, it all boils down to a single game. Neither finalist could be considered one of the 'Big' leagues, most of whom went home very early, but both have had a brilliant campaign and nobody can deny that both deserve their place in the final.
The show got off to a spectacular start with a huge hour-long fireworks display, followed by some real entertainment as SLFA Boss Glynn Carey staggered out onto the pitch, dressed in a sparkling pink costume and clutching a bottle of vodka. The idea was to deliver a message to the crowd, thanking them for their support and good behaviour, but it went disastrously wrong as he approached the microphone, slipped and tumbled off to stage. He was rapidly bundled off to hospital, much to the delight of the crowd who were now in the right mood for a day of football.
Both managers approached the game with the right attitude. Both expressed their delight in reaching the final and said they would be happy regardless of the result. Although there could be no doubt that both were desperate for the win, it was clear that both managers and sets of players were really looking forward to the day.
The game kicked off on time, and immediately opened up, to the surprise of most spectators who were expecting a much more tense affair. Loxley went close several times early on, Jon Gee clipping the top of the bar very early on and 37 year old defender Shawn Latchem forcing a great save out of QE keeper Phillip Hamshaw with a headed attempt from a corner. QE also had their own chances, but aside from those mentioned, neither team came close to scoring in the first half and they went into the break all-square.
Despite the 0-0 scoreline, it had been an entertaining half, and it continued in the same vein the second. Both teams continued to push and it was real end-to-end stuff. In the 58th minute, QE top scorer Marvin Zamora struck a fantastic shot at goal from way outside the box, which LE keeper Carsten Berg only just forced around his post. From the resulting corner, QE came close again, once again Zamora was on target but Berg denied him again for another corner. This time the ball was delivered to Mario Pisciotta on the edge of the LE box, and his low hard shot flew through a crowd of legs and buried itself in the net.
QE tried to shut up shop and run down the clock and the nails of the QE fans were down to the quick as time began to run out. But LE weren't finished and continued to push men forward. With just 10 minutes left on the clock, LE grabbed a deserved equaliser. Striker Mark Borner made a run at goal, as midfielder Michael O'Malley hit him a great through-ball. The QE defence stepped up, looking for offside, but there was no flag and Borner found himself one-on-one with the QE keeper. He kept his cool and rounded the keeper and brought the teams level. After-match replays show that he'd timed his run perfectly and was not offside.
It was fair at this stage, as both teams had played well, and extra time did seem like a fair result. The final whistle went, and we went into the extra 30 minutes.
Now it was all-or-nothing. Both teams knew that a single goal could be the winner and it led to a nervous ending.
The first half came and went, with both teams looking tired and bringing on various substitutes but not looking like scoring. As time ticked away, more subs were brought on as both teams started looking at the clock and considering the possibility of penalties, bringing on proven penalty takers to replace the tired legs out on the field.
It was exactly this sort of tactical substitution that led to a Roy-Of-The-Rovers finish for one player. LE substitute Kevin Richardson was brought on in the 114th minute to replace the tired legs of Gary Wishbone. He'd been brought on during a break for an LE throw-in, deep inside the QE half. The ball was thrown in and nodded on by midfielder David Cox and it fell perfectly for Richardson, who dived acrobatically and headed the ball powerfully into the net with his first (and only) touch in the entire competition. An amazing moment, and one which will go down in the World Cup annals.
With just 6 minutes to go, QE looked too tired to pull themselves level. They attacked for the remainder of the game, but LE packed out their box and held on until the final whistle.
Loxley Elite went up to collect the surprisingly attractive World Cup (surprising considering the quality of the league trophies), after QE had collected their losers medals. But both teams deserve to be congratulated for a brilliant tournament from both sets of players.
Congratulations to LE and to Stephen Laing for carrying them to victory. Commiserations to Paul and all the other managers who didn't quite make it, but thanks to everyone for taking part.
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