On Tuesday 4th May, Shipston Excelsior Reserves played Cubbington Albion in the Final of the Second Division Cup at Alveston.
Both teams had taken three points away from their league encounters so a close game was expected.
Cubbington took first blood when an obvious offside was not given and the Cubbington player squared the ball for his team mate to put it into a virtually empty net. Bouyed by this, Cubbington grew in confidence and Betteridge was forced into a string of fine saves to keep Shipston in the game.
As half time approached, Shipston picked up their play and fashioned some good chances, Hedderman blazing a volley wide from good position, before Simon Plank converted a Righton corner from close range.
Cubbington would have felt hard done by to go in half time all square but Shipston now had the psychological advantage and came out in the second half all guns blazing.
The Cubbington keeper made a string of fine saves, notably from Righton, and Shipston had several chances cleared off the line. Stuart was a constant threat down the right and from everywhere in Cubbington's half with his freakishly long throw-ins.
With Shipston unable to get the ball in the net, extra time arrived with much the same pattern of play as the second half with Cubbington only looking dangerous on the break, but Ragg mustered his troops at the back and Cubbington failed to create any clear cut openings.
With penalties only seconds away and regular corner taker, Righton, laying cripled on the sidelines, Hedderman swung a left footed cross over, Cubbington failed to clear their lines and at the second attempt Schaus bundled the ball in from three yards. Alveston erupted as Shipston had won the cup in the dying seconds.
The White Bear kindly agreed to stay open for a short while longer than normal and the Reserves celebrated their triumph in style.
To see a selection of pictures from the evening please click here.