Cup final glory for Haver Town as league & cup double is secured

Haver Town Reserves have completed a league and cup double this season as they came from behind on Tuesday night to beat Avondale Rangers in the Division Four Cup Final at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Fortunately on this occasion, the rain held off for the entire evening and the pitch was looking in tremendous condition as Haver Town came head to head with an Avondale Rangers side who were hungry to finish their season on a high. Following an impeccably observed minutes' silence in remembrance of Avondale founder, Tony Monk, who passed away recently, the game got underway with Haver going close in the opening two minutes but the rising effort went over the bar. Haver continued to knock on the door but the Rangers keeper was in fine fettle to keep them on terms. Then in the eleventh minute, Avondale Rangers counter-attacked and grabbed themselves a goal as the number 9 was played in, he raced clear and slotted away the chance to hand his side a shock 1-0 lead. Chances came and went for both sides before Haver Town notched a crucial equaliser just before the break to level up the match at 1-1.

As the natural light faded and the floodlights took effect, the second half got underway in very similar fashion to the first with Haver going close in the early stages, an effort finding it's way onto the woodwork and bouncing back out to safety. The men in navy grew into the game and started to find their wide men on regular occasions which was causing difficulties for the Avondale defence. Bacon in the Avondale goal was called upon on a number of occasions including one outstanding point blank stop when a goal looked certain. But in the 84th minute of the game, a key moment, long throw was delivered in by Haver Town from the right which found it's way to the midfielder just inside the box who squeezed an effort through the crowd and into the bottom corner to make it 2-1. Avondale gave it a real push late on but the Haver defence stood firm as they held on to be confirmed as league and cup double winners!

Congratulations to everybody involved at Haver Town Reserves on completing the feat which is a tremendous achievement for the club. Commiserations to an Avondale Rangers side who almost pulled off one of the shocks of the season and performed admirably on the night, both sides showing tremendous sportsmanship throughout.