Cheltenham League Notice Board

• 22/04/2005 - Hatherley Rangers Claim Senior Charities Cup

Hatherley Rangers lifted the Senior Charity Cup for the first time in their history last night when they overcame Winchcombe Town, 2-1 after extra time, in the final played at Whaddon Road.

On an excellent Spring evening, a crowd in the region of 350 looked on as the two teams served up a thrilling encounter. Following an even but goalless first half, Hatherley Rangers took the lead on 65 minutes when Stuart Young was on hand on the edge of the area to fire home a corner that had only been half cleared. This crowned Hatherley's best spell of the match and it was only in the last 10 minutes, when caution was thrown to the wind, that Winchcombe began to reassert themselves. With just two minutes left on the clock, however, Winchcombe levelled through Matt Casey and forced extra time.

The opening extra quarter of an hour was even tighter than the original 90 minutes had been but 5 minutes into the second period, Hatherley produced a move that resulted in Neil Finlayson sweeping home a low cross to regain his side the lead. This time, it was a lead that they held onto until the final whistle to ensure their first ever triumph in the Senior Competition.

This outstanding advertisment for the Cheltenham League will be followed, on Friday, April 29th, by the Junior Final, which is to be played between Naunton Park and St Marks III at Bishops Cleeve FC, and the Minor Final, between AC Olympia and Elmbridge Old Boys on May 4th at Cheltenham Saracens. Both games will be played under floodlights and will kick off at 7.30 pm