Sevenoaks Snr Charity Cup Final
1998-99
Warne’s late clincher
Otford Utd 1-0 St. George’s (Wrotham)
Report courtesy of Derek Hodge
A GOAL six minutes from time by striker Steve Warne saw Otford Utd lift the Sevenoaks Charity (Senior) Cup at Greatness Park on Good Friday.
The final was watched by an estimated crowd of 350, one of the largest in recent times, but they had little to cheer as a dour struggle ensued between two evenly matched British Energy Kent County League sides.
Included in the Otford side were brothers Nicky and Kelly Bainbridge who were members of the Eynsford side beaten by St. George’s in last season’s final.
Saints went in to the final bidding to become only the 11th team in the competition’s 105 year history to defend the magnificent silver trophy and emulate neighbours Platt Utd who achieved this feat in the centenary final five years ago.
Warne was a member of the beaten Sevenoaks side that day but had the distinction of scoring Town’s second goal.
Saints were missing regulars Dean Woodward and Gary Kitt but still retained nine players from last season’s Cup-winning side.
The firm pitch resulted in an uneven bounce and exchanges were even during the opening quarter with neither keeper seriously tested.
Otford keeper Bill Faulkes was the first in action when he came off his line to punch the ball away following a corner on the left taken by Micky Slade. The ball went out to Mark James who struck a fierce left foot shot which the diving Faulkes pushed away for another corner.
From another Slade flag kick, Darren Fisher, a medal winner with Platt and Saints, saw his header punched clear by Faulkes. More Saints pressure followed and Slade combined well with Darren Hill who released the ball to Steve ‘Yorkie’ Davis. He failed to control the ball initially but got a second chance to shoot and fired straight at the keeper.
Otford produced a good move across the pitch from the left involving Phillip ’Nobby’ Wolfe and the industrious N.Bainbridge whose final pass found brother Kelly. As he collected the ball, he stumbled and a good chance was wasted.
K.Bainbridge and Warne combined well up front with good movement off the ball, although the ever-alert Stuart Kitt kept a watchful eye on them both. N.Bainbridge tried to find his way through a packed Saints defence and the ball broke lose to Wolfe whose shot was smothered by keeper Gary McCoy.
With Otford’s defence wide open, the tall figure of central defender Martin Boiling did well to cut out a pass intended for Davis with Andy Bennett lurking in support.
At the other end, Rob Clark went close with an overhead kick following a free kick on the right by Jim Burden.
In the 30th minute, Kitt gained possession on his 18-yard line and moved forward powerfully down the right flank before crossing into the penalty area where Faulkes came off his line with Bennett in close contention. The keeper completely missed the ball but Sim Johnston was on hand to clear his lines.
A poor kick out by McCoy, following a back pass by James, almost presented Otford with a chance but neither striker was alert enough to capitalise on the situation as Saints supporters and their bench breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Driven on by skipper Kitt, Saints stepped up the pace and hesitancy in Otford’s defence almost let Davis in on the right, but his low shot was well saved.
The best chance of the half fell to Otford shortly before the interval. After a period of Saints pressure, N.Bainbridge gained possession. A quick ball out to Warne on the right saw his marker Colin Symons completely mis-time his tackle, but as the striker moved forward into a good position with only McCoy ahead, he blasted his shot over the crossbar.
Saints started the second period brightly with Davis crossing to Chris Smith, playing just behind the front two, who nodded the ball back to the unmarked Slade, but his shot failed to match the quality of the build-up.
N.Bainbridge made a forceful run down the right but his cross eluded both his brother and keeper McCoy before going out of play for a goal kick.
Slade and Fisher tried to work the ball into the 18 yard area but Boiling gained possession to ease the pressure. Davis and Bennett combined well but the former headed into the arms of Faulkes.
An excellent Otford move looked certain to break the deadlock until a timely interception by O’Sheen. Warne again worked the ball down the right before passing to K.Bainbridge. Although the ball bounced unkindly the striker looked certain to score but he had not reckoned on O’Sheen's alertness.
Burden’s inswinging corner on the right was collected by McCoy and then a delightful move between Burden, Warne and Wolfe down the left ended with a fine shot by the latter, which was well saved by McCoy.
Otford’s defence was again left open after another surging run by Kitt from a deep position down the right. His pass to Davis was flicked on to Bennett, but the striker shot wide of the target. Faulkes then saved bravely at the feet of Bennett.
In the 84th minute, Saints defenders were left stranded when Wolfe clipped the ball from the right across to the unmarked Warne, who had time to move forward before picking his spot and planting the ball just inside the near post beyond McCoy.
Saints, sensing their reign as Cup holders was coming to an end, pushed players forward in search of an equaliser but wasted a free kick taken by Kitt.
As the final whistle sounded there were joyous scenes involving the Otford players and their supporters.
Chris Teasdale, secretary of the Sevenoaks branch of the Kent Referee’s Association, made the presentations.
Otford: B.Faulkes, M.Duncan, R.Clark, C.Thompson, M.Boiling, S.Johnston, N.Bainbridge, P.Wolfe, S.Warne, J.Burden, K.Bainbridge. Subs: M.Bowen, S.Giemza, L.Parker, K.Phillips
St. George’s: G.McCoy, N.O’Sheen, C.Symons, D.Hill, S.Kitt, M.James, M.Slade, C.Smith, A.Bennett, S.Davis, D.Fisher. Subs: W.Burvill, S.Whiteman.