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Edgware duly completed a magnificent treble by landing the Spartan
Challenge Trophy with this win over First Division Stony Stratford in
the final at Tring on Tuesday - but what hard work they made of it.
Even the boost of a goal after only 27 seconds failed to inspire
anything like championship form from the Wares and when their rivals
levelled midway through the half they looked decidedly uncomfortable.
But they snatched the lead back just before the break and then a
superbly taken third goal from Gavin Hart 12 minutes from time finally
killed off the Stony Stratford's brave challenge.
It was Hart who had made that first minute goal with a pinpoint near
post cross from the right. Richard Morton, captain for the night in
place of the injured Rory Smith, ghosted in to glance a delicate header
past keeper Andrew Partlow into the corner of the net.
Edgware had a scare minutes later when a Darren Dykes cross was knocked
own at the far post by Marc Redsull to set up Ben Hill with a close
range chance, but Rob Blackburne - a surprise inclusion in the Wares'
lineup at the expense of last week's goalkeeping hero Darren Bonfield -
bravely smothered the ball at the striker's feet.
Adam Wallace should have stretched Edgware's lead soon after when Lee
Gardner's cross was flicked on by Stuart Blackburne into the big
striker's path. But he shot straight at keeper Andrew Partlow from 10
yards.
It was a miss which Edgware were left to regret on 17 minutes when Stony
Stratford levelled, Redsull prodding home Hill's cross.
Having knocked four Premier Division sides out of the competition in
previous rounds, Stony Stratford showed every indication that they could
make Edgware a fifth scalp, and Dykes missed a great chance to put them
ahead, firing over after Phil Kane carelessly lost possession.
However, out of the blue, Edgware regained the lead in the 41st minute.
Blackburne's clever pass put Hart free on the left and he squared the
ball perfectly for the onrushing Wallace to stab past Partlow.
In the remaining minutes of the half, Edgware twice came close to
extending their advantage. A great ball from Wallace behind the defence
gave Blackburne the chance to set up the foraging Kane but, with the
goal at his mercy, he crashed his shot against an upright. Then Kane's
free kick was flicked on by Morton to put Blackburne in on goal, but the
advancing Partlow blocked his shot, suffering an ankle injury in the
process, which required lengthy treatment.
The second half saw Edgware frustrated, not just by their the lively
rivals, but also by some poor refereeing, and joint manager Del Deanus
ended up being banished from the dugout for voicing his opinion on Mr
Scott's somewhat blinkered performance.
The Wares continued to labour and Greg Ngoyi was brought on to replace
Blackburne as they sought some inspiration to finally kill off their
opponents. And, with 78 minutes gone, they finally found it.
A storming run from halfway by Wallace ended with him setting Hart free
to send a superbly measured chip shot over the advancing Partlow and
into the net. It gave Edgware a decisive third goal, along with a
booking for Hart for his shirt waving celebration.
Any thoughts of a late Stony Stratford fightback were ended minutes
later when they had Dykes sent off after scything down Gardner, and
Edgware comfortably played out time against the 10 men to add the
Challenge Trophy to the already brimming White Lion Ground trophy
cabinet.
Edgware: R Blackburne, Moore, Kane, Fernee, Buchanan, Gardner,
Marks (Hayden), Morton, S Blackburne (Ngoyi), Wallace (Cain), Hart.
Other subs:
Rispoli, Bonfield.
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