CUP FINAL PREVIEW: Chingford Athletic face London Falcons in Fenton Cup showdown

The Fenton Cup reaches it’s conclusion for the season at Dagenham & Redbridge FC on Monday as holders Chingford Athletic take on London Falcons. We look ahead to the cup final and provide some insight into who might be crowned winners on the night.

Fenton Cup Final
Chingford Athletic vs London Falcons
At Dagenham & Redbridge FC, 7.30pm Kick-Off

This final brings together third-placed Chingford Athletic, the reigning champions in this competition, and seventh-placed first-time Fenton Cup finalists London Falcons with both sides eager to add their name to the coveted trophy.

Looking back at last season’s competition, it was won by Chingford Athletic for a third successive year, having also been victors in the last season of the Ilford & District League’s version of the competition and the opening season of the Essex Alliance League. Taking on Rainham Working Mens Club on a drizzly evening, Athletic were behind at half-time to a close range finish from Rainham’s skipper before Gary Murray’s brace in the second half and a Mike Mignot goal eventually brought home the silverware.

For Chingford Athletic, this final represents the remaining chance for the side to claim a piece of silverware this season having missed out on honours in the other competitions this season. A defeat in the last league match of the season meant that they missed out on the runners-up spot after a mid-season wobble which ultimately cost them. Their form in this competition continues to impress however and their run to the final has taken in a comfortable 7-1 victory away at Inter Plaistow in the second round of the competition and then another away-day win, beating Rainham Working Mens Club 3-0 in the third round which was a re-run of last season’s final. In the quarter-finals, they hosted Division One’s Sporting Hackney Reserves where just a single goal from Mike Mignot separated the sides in a 1-0 scoreline. In the semi-final, Chingford Athletic faced Grove United where the sides shared seven goals on the day but with five going the way of the boys from Chingford. Gary Murray was on target with two of those goals as Tom Kavanagh, David Livie and Luke Arnold completed the scoring to send their side to Dagenham! Gary Murray is the Chingford man to watch with his 25 goals this season, leading the front line with aplomb. Sidney Stojic has also followed in the well-trodden footsteps of fine Chingford goalkeepers by recording seven cleansheets for himself this season, forming part of a solid defence.

Chingford’s opponents in the final this season are London Falcons, a side who have grown in stature this season with two more wins than they managed in their opening season at that level last season. This has reflected in another comfortable mid-table finish for Glen Reeves and Alex Tsokallis’ side who recorded a seventh-placed finish. The men in orange have reserved their finest form for the Fenton Cup competition this where their run to the final took in a comfortable 4-1 win in the second round away at Melbourne Sports to kick start them. In the third round, they came head-to-head with a plucky Custom House side whom they eventually despatched in a 3-0 victory as they headed into the quarter-finals. It was their quarter-final victory against the Premier Division champions, Jolof Sports, that really gave them a sense of belief and confidence as they sent the champions packing in a 2-1 victory. The semi-final saw a potentially tricky tie away at Kitgum Boys successfully navigated as Daniel Vearer’s brace and a Seb Gardiner strike confirmed their place at Dagenham. The aforementioned Vearer is the Falcons key man with another big goal haul this season having netted 21 goals, many with that wand of a left foot that he possesses.

The league games between these sides have seen two high scoring clashes, both settled by a single goal in favour of Chingford Athletic (3-2 & 4-3), suggesting this final could also be a tightly contested battle between two very competent football teams. You would mark down Athletic as favourites to retain their crown and become winners for a fourth successive season. However, you can’t discount the efforts of London Falcons who have done so well to make it this far and won’t want to fall at the final hurdle.

Congratulations to our appointed match officials on this final, a reward for the continued hard work put in by our referees across the season. The vastly experienced Adam Storey is the man with the whistle and will be ably supported by the two Dave’s, Rivett and Sargent, on the touchlines. The wily John Simpson completes the quartet with the fourth official duties on the evening.