Despite
the thirty-odd clubs entering this season, the same
two made it to the final again this year. Last season
the match finished 2-0 to Clarendon, so Zion Athletic
were keen to reverse that score. But it was not to
be.
After the early exchanges, it was apparent that Clarendon
were imposing themselves in the game. The ball was
spending most of the time in the Zion half. After
around twenty minutes, the dead-lock was broken. The
ball spilled to Laurie Cunningham, who drilled his
shot along the ground into the Zion net from around
the edge of the area. A very well taken goal and considering
where and when it was, many people may have thrashed
at it.
The
match continued with Clarendon dominating. They soon
had a corner, which was headed home by Roger Moore
at the front post. Another great finish from a superb
leap. And it was soon three and the match seemed like
it was over bar the shouting. Just before half time,
another Clarendon shot almost made it, hitting the
underside of the bar and rebounding out. I was stood
behind the goal and I didn't think it crossed the
line, but someone remarked to me that he thought it
was extremely close. In the end it was academic.
From
Zion's point of view, to trail 0-4 at half time would
have been soul-destroying, but at just three there
was a glimmer of hope. The hope obviously had been
turned to belief in the dressing room, as Zion for
once seemed on top in the game. However, two Clarendon
goals in the second half quashed any Zion revival.
But
Zion manfully battled to the end, asserting themselves
in the game right until the final whistle.
The
match was tinged with sadness, as one of the Clarendon
players, Adam Rose, tragically lost his life earlier
this season. Many of his family and friends were at
the game and his father Clive bravely collected the
trophy from Darren Moore.
