Highams Park School 6th Form Football team won the final of the Essex Cup beating Barking Abbey School 1-0.  Congratulations to the team and their manager, Mr D Steward.

The final took place on Thursday 22nd April at Wadham Lodge Sports Ground, Brookscroft Road, E17 4JP KO 5.00 pm. 

The winners are shown below after receiving the cup and their individual medals. Read the match report below. Click the link to visit the Essex Football Association's website and the page showing the result.

Match report

Highams Park College 1 vs. Barking Abbey 0

The Highams Park side hadn't played together for over a month due to holidays etc. and for the first 20 minutes or so we were out classed by a very fit, highly disciplined Academy team. Gradually, however, Highams Park started to play as a team getting more of the ball, and at half-time with the scores still level at 0-0 we felt more confident about our chances. It must be said that only the brilliance of goalkeeper Joe Harris kept us in the game in the first half with 3 outstanding saves.

The second half started much the same with both midfields battling to take control. Captain Stephen Townsend and Robert Stapleton were locked in a crucial contest with the two International central midfielders for Barking Abbey. Everyone in the Highams Park side was showing a lot of passion and gave 100%. Because of this Barking Abbey grew frustrated and started to make errors in midfield.

The breakthrough came in the 75th minute when a weak clearance from the Barking goalkeeper was intercepted by centre back Stuart Gellatly who then passed it to Myles Alcindor-Kenny on the right. He gave the ball to Robert Stapleton who played a high through ball over the Barking Abbey defence for Stephen Townsend to run on to from midfield. He then found himself 1 on 1 with the Barking Abbey goalkeeper who saved his first shot, but then ball came back to Stephen and he kept his cool to put the ball under the goalkeeper and in to the back of the net.

Barking Abbey then pressed and tried to get a goal back in the last 15 minutes, but the Highams Park team managed to hang on to their lead, eventually winning the game 1-0 and lifted the RH Pratt Under 19s Essex Trophy for Schools.

Highams Park 6th Form Football Team

Joe Harris, Myles Alcindor-Kenny, Stuart Gellatly, Ricky Taylor, Aldo Bregu, Eric Kelly, Stephen Townsend (C), Robert Stapleton, Arron Watson-McNab, Stefan Adams, Sam Hollis. Subs: Josh Kelly, Scott Hill, Leon Coker, Jerome Tuitt.

Click here for a link to the Essex County Football Association website

Read the Semi-Final match report below.

Brentwood College 3 – 4 Highams Park 6th Form

(After Extra Time) Wednesday 3rd March 2010

Highams Park School advanced to the final in the prestigious Essex cup by beating a very strong Brentwood side in a pulsating match.

Highams Park opened the scoring after the 15th minute after good build up play in the midfield from C. Doyle, R. Stapleton and S. Adams, the ball then went to S. Townsend from 25yds out in the centre of the pitch who slotted E. Kelly through who finished with his left foot.

Shortly after the half time interval Highams Park doubled their lead when M. Alcindor-Kenny put a high ball over the top of the Brentwood defence which E. Kelly ran on to and finished well from just inside the penalty area.

The game was now end-to-end with every player giving 100% effort and there was lots of passion shown from both teams. Brentwood then reduced the deficit in the 60th minute when there was confusion in the Highams Park defence after a Brentwood corner, the ball broke to the edge of the area and Brentwood left midfielder smashed the ball in the top corner.  Brentwood equalised shortly after when a cross came in from the right and the Brentwood striker who was left unmarked at the back post tucked the ball home.

The game then went to extra time and the drama continued with Highams Park scoring an early goal in extra time to go 3-2 up after a corner was whipped in from R. Stapleton and S. Adams headed home from 6yds out. Highams Park added a 4th after the ball broke to S. Townsend in his own half; he then ran down the right wing and eventually cut the ball back to S. Adams who converted for his second goal of the match.

However, it wasn’t yet finished as Brentwood pulled a late goal back with a few minutes to go after some good play down the left, resulted in the Brentwood striker being put through 1 on 1 with the Highams Park goalkeeper J. Harris who was unable to stop a good finishing the bottom corner.

J. Harris, the Highams Park goalkeeper won the man of the match award for keeping his team in the game at times with 5 brilliant saves.

Highams Park 6th Form Football Team

Joe Harris

Myles Alcindor-Kenny

Stuart Gellatly

Ricky Taylor

Aldo Bregu

Calum Doyle

Stephen Townsend (C)

Robert Stapleton

Arron Watson-McNab

Eric Kelly

Stefan Adams

Subs:

Josh Kelly

Sam Hollis

Scott Hill

Raymond Osei-Bonsu

Mothen Amuaku

Leon Coker