A lovely evening for a Cup Final, our newest Senior team walked out by our newest Junior team, the U6s. A lovely touch showing the pathway the club has in place.

In the early sparring you could feel a little bit of nerves from both sides but ten minutes in both teams started to relax and enjoy the occasion. Birstall Stamford were trying to hit their wide men who were looking threatening but some strong defending from full backs Rees and Adeson kept them at bay. Bosworth had the best chance when Alex got onto a through ball but he poked it past the far post as the goalkeeper closed down the angle. Despite looking dangerous around the box, the Stamford goalkeeper looked comfortable with anything that came his way. Ollie came alive in the game and was taking passes from his midfielders on the turn and started to ask questions when cutting inside, he poked a ball across the box but nobody could get on the end of it. Rory had dropped in a couple of dangerous corners but the chances went begging much to Bosworth frustration.

Bosworth finally got the breakthrough when Rory used his strength in the tackle and the ball found its way to Ollie who finished into the bottom corner leaving the goalkeeper no chance. One nearly became two when Rory ran with the ball and his left foot strike from a tight angle went just over the bar.

Bosworth were giving Stamford no time on the ball as they aggressively pressed any balls played out from the back forcing them to clip longer more direct balls which were being eaten up by Harry or swept up by Charlie.

As the first half came to a close Bosworth introduced Nat to the game which brought some freshness into the attack and asked different questions of the fullback. The first half ended with Bosworth going in 1-0 but in reality it should have been more comfortable on the chances created, Alex had proved to be a real handful all half and Stamford’s defence would have been happy to hear the referees whistle. Defensively Bosworth looked solid, both fullbacks having an excellent game dealing with Stamford’s main threat.

After a short break Bosworth came out the blocks flying, with Connor, Rue and Declan dictating the midfield, it was Ollie again who scored to make it 2-0, a huge gap opened up and his clever run drifting in from the right saw him played in on goal and he calmly took it round the keeper and passed the ball into the empty net and he celebrated with a forward roll by the corner flag.

The pressure valve had been released and Stamford were starting to sense the game was escaping them, a few players started pulling up with cramp due to the intensity of the boys in Blue and Black. Bosworth Management decided to go and kill the game off. Sean came on at right back and Rees was pushed higher up the pitch, the change made an immediate impact as moments later Bosworth went 3-0 up when a ball played across goal was tapped in by Alex who had not long re-entered the play and he ran to celebrate back at the dugout with management.

Moments later, a deliberate foul from a frustrated Stamford midfielder, with no attempt made to play the ball as he took Rees out who was scampering down the wing. The referee didn’t hesitate to issue the red card. Despite this Stamford then had a couple of opportunities as Bosworth gave away a few cheap free kicks on the edge of the box but they didn’t threaten Gibo in goal who was a colossus when needed following on from last Thursdays game.

Rees then scored a couple of fantastic goals, some excellent work from Henry in the build up, his first was an excellent finish high into the far corner leaving the goalkeeper no chance and then a brilliant volley from the edge of the box for his brace, a yellow card followed as the shirt came off in celebration.

Bosworth introduced Blake into the game in place of Harry who had been a brick wall all match, a superb performance. The defence were determined to keep the clean sheet and could thank Gibo for ensuring that happened, he made a great save tipping a set piece onto the bar.

5 would have become 6 if it wasn’t for some excellent goalkeeping at the other end, a lovely weighted ball from Declan found the marauding Rees who jinked one way then the other to wrong foot the defender but his effort was met with an excellent save from the keeper, he then saved the rebound across the other side of his goal and then Bosworth put the ball just wide on the third attempt.

The final whistle sounded and Bosworth had executed their game plan flawlessly. They barely put a foot wrong all game and celebrations could begin as the 2025 Sunday Trophy County Cup winners.

The competition’s player of the match was awarded to Rees who was deployed tactically in the first half to nullify Stamford’s talented left forward and then moved into an attacking role in the second half to kill the game off with his direct running.

Well done Men, what a brilliant end to the season!

AFC Market Bosworth

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