SCORPION CUP FINAL
BROMPTON FC 0 BAR ONE 0 (aet)
(Bar One won 4-3 on penalties)
By Ricky Butler at the Calvert Stadium
Highlights of this match can be viewed here
GOALKEEPER Chris Gray was the hero for Bar One on Thursday evening as they won the Scorpion Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out success against Division Three champions Brompton FC.
After 120 minutes of tense action at the Calvert Stadium there was nothing to choose between the sides that had finished first and second in the league. But after Gray saved James Horsfield's sudden-death penalty, the goalkeeper then beat Brompton counterpart Hayden Miles to give Bar One the cup.
On his penalty shoot-out heroics, a delighted Gray said: "I am absolutely ecstatic. I didn't know where it went actually. I saved it with my feet and looked behind me. I actually thought Brompton had scored as I heard everyone cheering but I was well happy it went wide."
Brompton nearly got off to the perfect start when Steve Pratt headed over from close range after Gray had kept out a 2nd minute free kick from Horsfield, but Bar were the better side in the first half. They dominated for long periods and won a succession of corners, but the nearest they came to a breakthrough was a header from Dan Hill which came back off the post.
Brompton improved after the break and began to show the form that had seen them pip Bar to the title. But with Gray in imperious form, they were unable to find the goal they were looking for. Adam Wilson was twice denied by the Bar 'keeper before substitute James Marriott fired agonisingly wide of the far post.
With players from both sides suffering with cramp in extra time, the final became a war of attrition. Brompton probably had the better of it but after Gray kept out another effort from Marriott with his legs, a penalty shoot-out was required to decide the destiny of the cup.
Brompton had the early advantage when Ben Wood and Paul Humphreys both missed for Bar One while Pratt and Dave Clarkson put the champions 2-0 ahead. It would have been all over had Stu Dunn scored with Brompton's third kick, but he hit the post and Bar made the most of that reprieve as Hill and Richard Hammerton levelled it up.
Brompton led again with a confident kick from Ryan Wilson but Callum Sherridan made no mistake for Bar, so after five kicks each it was 3-3. But then came the dramatic conclusion. Gray saved Horsfield's effort with his legs before slamming home the winning penalty to give Bar the cup.
Winning manager Brett Adcock said: "When we were 2-0 down [in the shoot-out] I didn't think we stood a chance. But I can't take anything away from them. They were aching and playing through the pain barrier but I take my hat off to them. Brilliant!
"{Chris] has been saying for a couple of weeks that he wanted to take a penalty for us if it happened and he said he was brilliant at them, but we'd never seen him take one. Today he came good so its party time."
It proved to be a night of double celebration as Brompton were presented with the league championship trophy before Bar One collected the cup. These two sides can now look forward to a relaxing summer break before planning for a Division Two campaign next season.
BROMPTON FC - Miles, Clarkson, Toman (L), Pratt, Brennan, Horsfield, Wilson (A), Caisley, Johnston, Dunn, Toman (G). SUBS - Wilson (R), Marriott, Watson, Dawson, Jackson.
BAR ONE - Gray, Anderson, Adamson, Hammerton, Simpson, Carson, Humphreys, Sherridan, Manamley, Wood, Hill. SUBS - Thornborough, Harrison, Kenningley, Reynard, Rudd.
REFEREE - J. Havelock
ATTENDANCE: 336
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