Mussels lift John O'Hara Cup

SHOREHAM Football Club are the John O'Hara League Cup champions for a second time in three years.

They defeated Ringmer 10-9 on penalties after a dour 120 minutes of action at Three Bridges on Good Friday.

After Mussels had midfielder Mark Burt sent off, for two bookings, eight minutes from the end of extra-time, all 10 of their players scored from the spot.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That included keeper Steve Allfrey, who seemed reluctant to take his spot-kick. But he blasted it straight down the middle of the goal and then Ringmer's Dan McLaughlin, who won the cup with Shoreham two years ago, shot the next penalty wide which started Mussels' celebrations.

Shoreham had the better of a cagey encounter and thought they had opened the scoring on 16 minutes. Dean Smith's 20-yarder was tipped onto the underside of the bar by Ringmer keeper Joe Adams.

Mussels claimed the ball went over the line, and spectators behind the goal said it was a yard over, but the linesman kept his flag down.

Two minutes after half-time, Shoreham's Darren Annis was brilliantly denied by Adams before Jamie Groves, leaning back, fired over from eight yards.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ringmer's Marc Whiteman tested Allfrey with a 20-yarder on 84 minutes before Groves goalbound header, a minute into injury-time, was cleared by Ringmer's Dave Soutar.

Burt was then red-carded in extra-time before Shoreham regained the cup they won two years ago.

Outstanding Shoreham captain, Matt Hurley, was man of the match.

SHOREHAM: Allfrey; Rajan, Hurley, Jordan, Philpott; Boddy, Taylor, Burt, Smith, Groves; Annis. Subs: Denyer (Annis 90), O.Callaghan (Boddy 105), P.Proto (Jordan 118), Mighall, Green.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

RINGMER: Adams; Soutar, Hunt, McLaughlin, Hart; J.Johnson, Taylor, R.MacMillan, Barden; Whiteman, Scerri. Subs: Price (Hunt 65), Greatwich (Johnson 71), Patel (Scerri 103), Matten, Novis.

For full report and match reaction, see the March 27 edition of the Shoreham Herald.

Related topics: