Seend United completed an incredible treble winning season when they came from behind to beat Potterne FC 2 – 1 to win The Knockout Cup – sponsored by Chantry Digital Ltd.
On a perfect evening for football at Meadow Lane, Westbury it was Potterne who had the opening chance after 3 minutes when Ash Huntley fired a shot over the Seend crossbar.
Seend were made to wait until the 15th minute before they had their first chance on goal when after a free kick Nick Taylor had a tame header easily saved by Richard Tandy in the Potterne goal.
In the 20th minute Potterne attacked again when Carl Ledbury drifted down the left and exchanged passes with Darren Lewis before seeing his shot fly over the bar.
Seend responded two minutes later when a long ball from Paul Gittins found Matt Purdy, but he missed the target. On 25 minutes Purdy collected a long ball from DJ Wheeler but was fouled on the edge of the box. From the resulting free kick, Seend believed they took the lead. The free kick was fired into a crowded penalty area, hit the post and crossed the face of the goal where it was eventually scrambled away by the Potterne defence with the officials waving away Seend protests that the ball had crossed the line.
With tempers becoming frayed and with tackles flying in from both sides, referee Sam Gooding did well to keep the match from boiling over handing out four cautions in the first half to players from both sides.
Just after the half hour a shot from DJ Wheeler rebounded to Seend captain Mark Reynolds but his tame shot was saved by Tandy in the Potterne goal. Tandy was also on hand five minutes before the break when he saved low down an effort from Purdy after more good work from Wheeler on the edge of the box.
A goalless first half of little quality and frayed tempers was summed up just before the break when a pot shot from Carl Ledbury was fired high over the Seend bar from fully 25 yards out.
After the break, it seemed both sides wanted to concentrate on the football, and it was Potterne who started on the front foot when just a minute after the restart Matt Tilley saw his effort go just wide.
Three minutes later Potterne finally broke the deadlock when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Carl Ledbury stepped up and in the first real moment of quality in the game, fired the free kick into the bottom left corner of the Seend goal.
With their noses in front Potterne realised they needed another goal and Ash Huntley should have increased their lead when he was put through after 51 minutes, but his shot was well saved by Nick Mead in the Seend goal.
Mead saved Seend four minutes later when he punched over a Potterne corner and from that resulting corner he saved a goal bound header from Matt Tilley.
As Seend tried for the equaliser Charlie Waylen saw his free kick well saved by Tandy with half an hour remaining.
A minute later, from a Potterne free kick Tilley fired over and after 68 minutes with Potterne starting to tire and needing a second goal Wayne House missed the target after a throw-in.
Seend’s breakthrough came after 70 minutes when a corner fired into a crowded penalty area was forced home by a jubilant Adam Potter to level a competitive final.
This seemed to inspire Seend, and they pushed forward for the winner and two minutes later Charlie Waylen shot wide.
Seend were getting on top and in the 75th minute, after some excellent work in midfield from Wheeler he released Purdy down the left. Purdy sprinted down the wing and fired a low cross across the face of the Potterne goal where under pressure from Ryan Nichols the ball was deflected in the net by a Potterne defender to give Seend the lead.
With Potterne running out of steam, Purdy should have increased Seend’s advantage when he fired over on 77 minutes, and three minutes later a DJ Wheeler shot was well saved by Tandy to keep Potterne in the game.
A minute later Tandy saved again when Purdy shot from the edge of the box.
Potterne’s best chance to equalise came with a minute left on the clock as they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the Seend box, but as the ball was fired in it was well defended by a firm Seend defence.
A minute later Sam Gooding blew the final whistle to Seend celebrations to bring the curtain down on a remarkable treble winning season.
The Knockout Cup – sponsored by Chantry Digital Ltd was presented to Seend by Mr Neil Hawker. Seend were also presented with The Trowbridge Windows and Conservatories sponsored Division Two trophy by League President Mr Ian Hibbard.
The Man of the match trophy was awarded to Seend’s Ryan Nicholls.
