15th April 2007 - John Fowler Memorial Cup Final
Real BTS 9 - 0 Norfolk Destroyers
Wivenhoe Town FC, Broad Lane, Wivenhoe.
It was pleasing to see a good crowd in attendance for this cup final at Wivenhoe. In beautiful sunshine Norfolk Destroyers kicked off facing the sun. Real BTS mounted the early pressure and during the first ten minutes had the majority of the possession without creating any good goal scoring opportunities.
In the 11th minute Real BTS set up a good attempt on goal but a fine save by David Williams in the Norfolk Destroyers goal resulted in the ball being pushed wide for a corner.
In the 18th minute a break down the right wing saw Real BTS take the lead when the move was completed by striker Lee Braddon who drove the ball into the net from 10 yards.
Two minutes later Real BTS doubled their lead when Steve McMillan, who was on the left, centred the ball and found Simon Smithen who, lying on the ground, hooked the ball into the net from close range.
Norfolk Destroyers, stung by the 2 goals, hit back and saw a firm goal bound header headed away by a Real BTS defender.
In the 39th minute a powerful shot from some distance by Real BTS midfielder Dave Hassard was turned in from 6 yards by Simon Smithen to claim his second goal of the match and put Real BTS 3 goals ahead.
With their confidence high Real BTS continued to play some neat passing football. In the 42nd minute a long through ball was gathered by Steve Mcmillan. He took the ball forward and from just inside the penalty box shot past the advancing David Williams to extend Real BTS' lead.
Half Time: Real BTS 4 - 0 Norfolk Destroyers
The second half kicked off with the sun still beating down on this warm spring morning, but, within a minute of the restart Real BTS added to their goal tally. Niel Goldsworthy, with a right foot shot from just inside the penalty area, gave David Williams no chance in the Norfolk Destroyers goal.
Just three minutes later Real BTS showed their superiority when they took the ball down the left wing and with a square pass found Daniel Troy who calmly slotted the ball into the net to make the score 6-0.
With 60 minutes of the match played one of the Norfolk Destroyers strikers broke clear in midfield and was heading for goal but a rash challenge by one of the Real BTS defenders saw the referee stop play for a foul. After consulting one of his assistants referee Kelvin Llewellyn produced a red card and Real BTS were reduced to 10 men.
With a half hour of the match remaining having a player advantage gave the Norfolk Destroyers some encouragement and whilst Real BTS were reorganising their defence Norfolk Destroyers momentarily had greater possession of the ball. However, this was short lived because in the 63rd minute a shot by Lee Braddon took a deflection and wrong footed the Norfolk Destroyers goalkeeper to make the scoreline 7-0.
In the 71st minute with both sides becoming tired in the warm sunshine, and the pace of the game having dropped, another shot by Lee Braddon found the net to give the player his hat-trick.
Norfolk Destroyers continued to battle away trying to grab a consolation goal but in the 88th minute and with the game drawing to a close Real BTS were awarded a free kick some 25 yards from the Norfolk Destroyers goal. The kick was superbly taken by captain Craig Isom who found the net to complete the scoring in a match that was well refereed by Kelvin Llewellyn and his two able assistants Roger Bowman and David Brine.
Full Time: Real BTS 9 - 0 Norfolk Destroyers.
Norfolk Destroyers (white shirts) defending their goal.
Challenging for the ball near the centre circle.
Scott Fowler (son of John Fowler) presenting the runners-up trophy to Mark Healy, captain of Norfolk Destroyers.
Scott Fowler presenting the Man of the Match tankard to Simon Smithen of
Real BTS.
Scott Fowler presenting the John Fowler Memorial Cup to Craig Isom, Captain of Real BTS.
Real BTS winners of the John Fowler Memorial Cup 2006/07.
