Shefford Town & Campton 0-4 Stotfold FC

Beds FA Senior Trophy final

Wednesday 6 April

Sharpenhoe Road League champions in-waiting Stotfold continued their fantastic form with victory in the Beds FA Senior Trophy final against close rivals Shefford Town & Campton. Stotfold were gifted a dream start after just five minutes when a speculative shot from the edge of the box was fumbled by Shefford's keeper and tapped in by a grateful Ashley Kersey. Brett Donnelly's first cup final as Stotfold manager saw his side start on the front foot against league (and local) rivals Shefford, and with Stotfold top of SSML Division 1 they surely went into the game as favourites in extremely windy and cold conditions, something the Ambers have become used to this season with the usual climate of their home ground. Donnelly played alongside Johnny MacNamara in his time at Hitchin Town and the winger lined up alongside striker Henry Snee for Shefford, who had a short spell with the Canaries recently but earlier this season returned to the club where he had so much success. The ever-impressive Codi-Lee Spavins curled a shot over the bar before getting on the end of a long ball coming over his shoulder and firing a half volley into the back of the net, with Stotfold firmly in control and now 2-0 up. Just moments later the league leaders came close to making it three and were in complete control of the cup final. Shefford earned a rare opportunity with a free kick on the left wing but the cross was headed wide by Snee. The following counter attack resulted in another driving run by Spavins, but his pass was then blasted over the crossbar from close range, a real wasted opportunity. On the stroke of half-time Stotfold surely sealed the silverware as Kade Bagge put the Ambers three goals to the good against an increasingly shaky defence. Stotfold had won the trophy before the sun had set on the surrounding Chiltern Hills at the home of Barton Rovers. In the second half Stotfold academy product Aaron Hector had the tough task of keeping MacNamara quiet, but the full–back also proved a threat going forward as Stotfold continued to attack. These two sides met in the league back in January and played out a close-fought 1-1 draw, but there was only one team in the game this time around, on the cup final stage. Shefford tried to grow into the game but chances were few and far between, with a lack of quality in possession as well as build-up play in a frustrating night for their supporters. Stotfold's only task was to get through the second half unscathed after a lightning-fast start to the game, and they stuck to the plan, and were even able to make it 4-0 in the very final moments of injury time when substitute Luke Smith thumped the ball home from the penalty spot. It was Stotfold's night at Sharpenhoe Road- up next: promotion.