Seend United are the new holders of The A & B Cup – sponsored by AM Print & Copy after beating Heytesbury after a penalty shootout under the lights at Meadow Lane Westbury in front of a 250 strong crowd.
The evening started on a sombre note as a minute’s silence was held in memory of league committee member Mr Phillip Senior who sadly passed away recently. Mr Senior was a former league referee, a referee instructor and a former chairman of The West Wiltshire R.A.
Phillip joined the league committee in 1990 and was a former Referee secretary, a fixture secretary and vice chairman. He will be missed by all who knew him.
When the final kicked off it was Seend United who started on the front foot, earning a free kick after 3 minutes. The free kick taken by Charlie Waylen found its way to Jake Sainsbury whose shot was smartly saved by Sam Spratt in the Heytesbury goal.
It took 7 minutes for Seend to open their account, a Charlie Waylen corner was fired into the box and after a melee the ball rattled the Heytesbury crossbar, it fell to Jack Booth on the edge of the area who stuck it soundly into the Heytesbury net to make it 1 – 0.
This seemed to wake Heytesbury up and straight from the restart the ball was passed out to Myles Woodward on the right whose pinpoint cross was firmly headed home by Sam Wright to level the match.
On the 10-minute mark Myles Woodward fired just over the bar and 5 minutes later a long-range effort from Adrian Vintileanu was just wide as Heytesbury tried to get on top.
Just before the half hour Heytesbury had a free kick just outside the box and Reece Collyer came close to putting Heytesbury ahead when he fired just over the bar.
A minute later Tom Rooney for Seend collected the ball just inside the Heytesbury half and looked up and chanced his arm with a long-range lob which was watched over his bar by Spratt in the Heytesbury goal.
With both teams looking to head into the break with an advantage Adam Welch headed just over for Heytesbury on 35 minutes and just before the break after a Seend free-kick Matt Purdy had a half chance that was well defended and cleared.
In the second half Seend started on the front foot again with Jordan Gullis heading wide from a Waylen free-kick and just before the hour mark some excellent work by Gullis and Purdy on the edge of the Heytesbury box nearly produced a chance before the ball was scrambled away.
In a very competitive second half referee Alister Brewer, who had an excellent match was forced to show a few yellow cards to players from both teams as they looked to gain a vital lead.
More half chances came and went for both teams and with 15 minutes remaining DJ Wheeler blasted a free kick over the Heytesbury bar.
With ten minutes left on the clock Wheeler had the best chance of the game when after a cross from the left he saw his point-blank effort superbly saved by Sam Spratt to keep Heytesbury in the match.
Heytesbury pushed forward again and after some good work on the left a cross from Adam Welch just evaded Myles Woodward in front of the Seend goal.
In the dying minutes Nick Taylor headed wide for Seend following a corner but Seend had keeper Harry Waylen to thank right at the death when he produced an excellent save from an Adrian Vintileanu shot from the edge of the box to force the match into extra-time.
The first half of extra-time produced a few half chances for both teams but the best one fell to Seend when Jack Booth was through, but Sam Spratt came out and saved at his feet.
In the second period, with both teams tiring, Jordan Gullis blasted over from a Seend free-kick and Simon Parfitt had his shot blocked and just before the end Waylen in the Seend goal smothered a Heytesbury free-kick so the A & B Cup final – sponsored by AM Print and Copy would be decided by a penalty shootout.
DJ Wheeler took the first penalty for Seend and confidently placed the ball past Spratt to give them the advantage.
Callum Hotine stepped forward to Heytesbury but blasted the ball high over the bar.
Jack Booth then thumped home for Seend to make it 2 – 0.
Brad Edwards stepped up for Heytesbury and scored to reduce the deficit.
Matt Purdy then scored for Seend to restore their advantage.
Sean Snook then slotted home for Heytesbury.
Simon Parfitt then stepped forward to make it four out of four for Seend.
Jake Owen then took the long walk from the half-way line for Heytesbury knowing he had to score to keep the game alive but unfortunately for him saw his penalty come back off the post to send Seend United into wild celebrations.
After the game the trophy was presented to the Seend Captain Mark Reynolds by league Chairman Sam Gooding.
The Man of the match trophy was awarded to DJ Wheeler of Seend.
The match was also a special day for Seend player Jackson Crowder who was celebrating his 21st birthday.
After winning the Division Two championship, Seend United will be looking to make it a treble winning season next Tuesday 3rd May when they will face Potterne FC in the final of The Knockout Cup – sponsored by Chantry Digital Ltd. The match is also played at Meadow Lane, Westbury with a 7.45pm kick-off.
The entrance fee is £3 and it will be CASH ONLY at the gate.