ACD United stun Lionside with stoppage time winner in Division 2 Cup Final
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ACD United were crowned the Division 2 Cup Winners for this season on Tuesday night with a late, late goal overcoming a hard-working Lionside outfit to take home the silverware.
On a barmy warm evening and in front of a crowd well in excess of 200 at Dagenham & Redbridge's Chigwell Construction Statium, the first half of the match was an intense affair with both sides needing to be operating at full capacity in a real blood and thunder affair. ACD had the first opporunity of the match with their initial effort in the 3rd minute blocked before the follow up was put over the bar. Lionside created a couple of half chances of their own without testing the ACD keeper but ACD themselves were looking the more likely to grab a lead with numerous chances being cleared or blocked by a resolute Lionside defensive unit who were acquitting themselves well. The sides were well matched through the opening 45 minutes which saw them rather predictably end the first half level at 0-0.
In the second half, it took just ten minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Lionside earned themselves a penalty with a trip in the box. The underdogs made no mistake from the spot to take a shock 1-0 lead. ACD expectedly raised their game from thereon in and could have levelled but found a opposition keeper in sublime form as he pulled off some great saves and held on to everything that headed his way. Then, 12 minutes from time, when it looked like Lionside were going to hang on, an absolutely stunning strike was arrowed into the top corner by ACD United to bring the teams level at 1-1. As the half wore on, chances came and went for ACD to win it but it looked as though we were going to be heading to a penalty shootout as the game entered stoppage time. Famous last words... this final was to end as each of the others has this month... ACD's number 12 ran through one-on-one with the Lionside goalkeeper but, as the recovering defender got his foot to the ball, the shot was deflected agonisingly up and over the keeper to win the match 2-1 in the 95th minute of the game!
Congratulations to ACD United who showed tremendous spirit and fight to come back from a goal down to rescue the match and then ultimately win it with the last chance of the game. A special word also to Lionside who acquitted themselves with the big occasion really well and will count themselves very unlucky not to have got something from the game.