CUP FINAL PREVIEW: Docklands Albion and ACD United go head-to-head in Fenton Cup battle

This Saturday marks the first of our cup finals for the season as we head to Dagenham & Redbridge FC for the Fenton Cup.

All of our showpiece cup finals will once again be taking place at Dagenham with full bar and refreshment facilities available on the day which you are all welcome to make use of.

All of the clubs involved have been allocated tickets which they are required to sell so please contact your clubs for tickets in the first instance. We also have a supply of tickets on the turnstile on the day at a cost of £5 each and £3 for concessions.

We now look ahead to the games and provide some insight into who might be crowned cup winners on Saturday.

Fenton Cup Final – 6pm Kick-Off
Docklands Albion vs ACD United

The marquee Fenton Cup Final for all divisions sees two sides outside of the top flight competing in this final, the first time that has happened for a number of years in running this competition. Two of the season’s most in-form teams, Docklands Albion from Division One and Division Two’s ACD United, go head-to-head as they attempt to get their hands on the coveted silverware.

As their first season in Saturday football, it has been one to remember so far for Docklands Albion. Having begun their short life so far as a Sunday club in the Corinthian League last term, they made a terrific entrance in the Saturday arena in September and have taken to it like a proverbial duck to water. They presently lead the way at the top of their division with a couple more victories looking to be enough to take the title and they also made the semi-finals of the county cup, losing out narrowly. As a side who pride themselves on flowing, attractive football, they are a side who have brought much to the league and will look to extend that into a Premier Division campaign next year. Their difficult run to this final started with a hard fought 3-1 win away at Melbourne Sports in round one before knocking out the first of their top flight opponents, United London, winning 2-1. In the third round, they were again up against it as they faced the league champions elect, Colebrook Royals, but sent them spiralling from the competition 6-3 before then dismissing the reigning league champions, Jolof Sports in the quarter-finals. In the semi-finals, they faced the unbeaten and highly-rated FC Baresi, scoring the only goal of the game to win 1-0 and progress to Saturday’s final. Their top goalscorer this season is Tashan Benjamin with nine goals to his name as a side who tend to share around the scoring responsibilities amongst the team.

As we look into the away dressing room on Saturday, we find an ACD United side who have made a successful return to Saturday football this year after having a couple of seasons away.  Much like Docklands, they are a side who are in a strong position to record a league and cup double so will undoubtedly head into the game as a side who cannot be underestimated. Despite their break from playing 11-a-side football, this is a group of players who know each other’s games inside out having played together for a number of seasons previously in the Romford & District League and Corinthian League. In the league, they are locked in battle with Chingford Athletic Reserves for the title with that likely to head deep into May for a resolution with still plenty of matches to be played. Their run in this competition started with a comfortable 9-0 victory away at Frenford A in the second round before they played host to Premier Division Cup finalists, West Essex Reserves, in the third round. Winning that tie proved to be somewhat of a watershed moment and perhaps the point where they began to believe they could make this final. It took a penalty shootout though in the quarter-final against London APSA to separate the sides with ACD rolling out 6-5 winners from the spot to book a place in the last four. In the semi-final, they took on another side from the higher divisions as they faced Forest Green, going a goal down early on in that game. But a tremendous comeback saw them ultimately cruise to victory, winning 5-1. In a side quite fond of finding the back of the net, Michael Wade’s 37-goal haul sees him top of the league scorers chart going into the game and is the man to watch in this side.

Were the game to be played on paper, you would have to place Docklands Albion as the favourites, overcoming a quite horrendous draw in making the final and the top quality sides they have dismissed along the way. However, ACD United are a side clearly going places, have plenty of momentum on their side and, with some big wins along the way, should not be taken lightly. Whatever happens, you can expect goals in this one so perhaps the side who deals with the threat of the opponents attacking force will be the one lifting the cup at around 8pm!

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 Dave Sargent is the man with the whistle and will be ably supported by Norman Redington and Jeff Mattheou from the touchlines. Paul Shea completes the quartet with the fourth official duties.