If the players of both The Duke FC and Heytesbury FC aren’t already on first name terms, they probably will when the teams lock horns for the fifth time this campaign when they meet each other at the Gooding Accounts Stadium, Meadow Lane, Westbury on Saturday afternoon in the Gooding Accounts sponsored Spring Cup Final. KICK-OFF 3.00PM
Jake Packer’s Division One winners The Duke hold the bragging rights, with 3 victories out of the 4 meetings to date, two of those coming in the league to help the Bratton based side beat Hilperton United to the Number One spot by 9 points.
The first meeting of the sides was way back in August and saw Duke claim a 3-1 win, Drew Adams netted twice and Gary Tugwell once, with Sam Wright replying for Heytesbury. The second triumph came at the end of October, this time a Drew Adams hat trick and a goal each for Tugwell and Jack Hayward earned them 3 points, Reece Collyer and Jake Wright scoring for Heytesbury.
Saturday’s final brings the curtain down on the first fully completed Trowbridge Windows sponsored Trowbridge and District season for three years, and both teams would have been grateful for the extra matches the Spring Cup gave them since the start of the year, especially Heytesbury as their league campaign was completed in December.
For The Duke, the Final will be their 37th fixture of the season, while for Spring Cup holders Heytesbury it will see them reach the 39 game mark. With the competition starting in January, both teams found themselves in Group B, unfortunately with both Marshfield and Aces withdrawing from the competition after a few games, it meant that only Shrewton Town Development were left as opposition for both sides.
The Duke were paired with Shrewton for their opening game and the second division side earned a deserved draw, Joe Moloney coming off the bench to score the equaliser for The Duke. A week later and away from home Duke beat Shrewton 1-0, Matthew Friendship scoring the only goal of the game.
Both matches against Marshfield and Aces were awarded, which meant that the two ties against fellow finalists Heytesbury would determine who topped the table, with Duke losing the first meeting 3-2, it meant that they had to settle for second place, Tom Blackman scored both goals in the defeat. Blackman found himself on the scoresheet again when they meet in the final group match, Drew Adams and a Richard Croker treble on his Duke debut sealed a 5-2 win.
In the quarter-final, Duke visited Division two champions Seend United and a 1-0 triumph thanks to Jack Hayward’s second half strike set up a semi-final showdown with local rivals Westbury United Reserves.
In a rampant first 45 minutes, goals from Billal Karomuni, Gary Tugwell and Matt Mead earned them a return to Meadow Lane where they will hope to complete a league and cup double to cap what has already been a fine season for Jake Packer’s side.
Heytesbury’s first match of the competition was a walkover against Aces FC, they then beat Marshfield 6-2 before they withdrew from the Cup, Adam Welch and Myles Woodward scored 2 each, with a goal each from Reece Collyer and Jake Wright making up the half dozen.
Sam Wright’s goal, 10 minutes from time earned Heytesbury a 1-0 win away at Shrewton Development, who suffered a 4-0 defeat when the teams met for a second time, Jake Wright netting a hat trick with Sam Wright bagging the other.
Next up were matches against The Duke, the first saw Jake Wright (2) and Callum Hotine net in the 3-2 win and Wright and Sam McEntee net in the 5-2 defeat.
Heytesbury hosted Second division, Bradford Town ‘A’ in their quarter-final encounter and it was a walk in the Spring sunshine for Charlie Heydon and Tom Willoughby’s side as they cruised to a 9-1 win. Adam Welch (2) and singles for Myles Woodward, Sam Wright, Reece Collyer, Liam Henry, Sean Snook, Sam Roberts and Bradley Edwards who will miss the final through suspension completed the rout.
A mouth-watering semi-final meeting with Potterne who had thumped them 7-2 at the same stage in the Knockout Cup, saw them avenge that defeat as a first half Adam Welch double fired them to a 2-1 success.
On paper and due to their three previous victories of their opponents this term, The Duke FC will start as favourites to add the Spring cup to their Division One winners trophy, however they will face a tough challenge from a Heytesbury side, looking to retain the Cup they won in 2019 when they beat Calne Town Reserves 7-2 in a very one-sided final.
Admission to the Final is £3.00 and is Cash Payment Only