Yaxley’s first team proved triumphant in the Bank Holiday Monday Hunts Senior Cup final.

Club President “Sir” Jeff Lenton takes up the story.

Huntingdonshire FA Senior Cup Final

St Ives Town 1 Yaxley 1 (aet) Yaxley won 5-4 on penalties

Monday, 05 May 2008
Holders St Ives saw the cup slip from their grasp in a dramatic penalty shootout. In the same competition last season, it was St. Ives who won the semi-final against the Cuckoos, ironically enough on penalties.

Both teams created chances and Sam Makansi could have stolen an early lead in the first 10 minutes had he taken a risk and hit the ball first time when he was one-on-one with the Saints ‘keeper. In the heat it was wearing for both teams but the Saints made the breakthrough in the dying seconds of the first half when Jason King won a corner and Liam Kennett’s kick was headed in by Will Fordham.

Yaxley replied four minutes into the second half when Ricky Hailstone’s cross field pass played in Sam Makansi to delicately chip Rob Mackney. Makansi, who had scored the critical added time equalizer against Hampton in the semi final, had to be substituted 10 minutes later with a groin strain and was replaced by Mark Paul.

In the 85th minute, Cuckoos defender Josh Crick (who was recovering from a 3 inch gash in his forehead received in last weeks U18 cup final) was replaced by Scott Bogusz.

Elio Salerno came on for Dan Fountain and immediately made a couple of penetrating runs down the right flank but to no avail. Both sides had opportunities to win the contest in the second period of extra time. The holders were closest when Dan Newman’s effort from distance rebounded to safety off the Yaxley crossbar whilst at the opposite end, Mark Paul’s earlier jinking run down the left didn’t finish with any power and comfortably bobbled into the ‘keepers arms.

At the end of extra time, both teams were just about dead on their feet after 120 minutes of competitive but not particularly pretty football.

In the penalty contest, Yaxley duo Teddy Rimmell and Scott Bogusz successfully converted as did St Ives skipper Will Fordham. But Jason King’s miss from the second Saints kick handed the Cuckoos the initiative and Chris Gospel scored for Yaxley along with Carl Foreman for St Ives before Ricky Hailstone’s uncharacteristic penalty miss enabled Liam Kennett to level for the Saints.

The pressure was on for the last of the regulation five kicks. Mark Paul shot wide for Yaxley giving Jamie Blackwell the chance to become the St Ives match winner, but his kick was superbly saved by John Feetham in the Yaxley goal.

Elio Salerno and Dan Pilsworth kept their nerve to make it four apiece before Lee Blewett smashed the seventh Yaxley kick against the Bar. Feetham again kept his side in the hunt with another excellent save from Dan Newman.

Ben Russell fired the Cuckoos in front and it was then that Feetham became the Yaxley hero with his 3rd and match winning save from Barry Albone.

Congratulations to Clippo and his lads and commiserations to St. Ives.

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