12 May 2007
VIDEO: FA Trophy Final: Kidderminster 2-3 Stevenage

Stevenage Borough fought back from 2-0 down to win the first FA Trophy Final at the new Wembley.

Kidderminster Harriers 2-3 Stevenage Borough

The FA Carlsberg Trophy
The Final
2.15pm, Saturday 12 May 2007
Wembley Stadium
Winning club receive £50,000
Live on Sky Sports

Stevenage Borough claimed a famous Trophy victory in front of the biggest ever crowd in the Final of the competition, as they came from two goals down to secure an incredible triumph at Wembley.

For their manager Mark Stimson he has also claimed his place in the history books as the only man to win The FA Trophy three times in a row.

James Constable scored twice before the interval as Kidderminster threatened to run away with the game, but a remarkable transformation saw Stevenage come out of the traps in the second period and take the Trophy home.

In only the second minute Stevenage had a sight of goal, but the slick conditions robbed Steve Morison of the chance to shoot. Weaving through the Kidderminster defence, Morison pulled his leg back but fell before he was able to strike the ball goalwards.

In a frantic opening Adam Miller almost provided another shooting chance after good advantage was played by the referee. Although Miller was tugged back on the half way line the referee waved play on as he forced his way clear and guided a delicate pass with the outside of his boot towards Morison, only for it to be cut out by Michael Blackwood.

The first corner of the match was notable mostly for the remarkable sound of more than 20,000 Stevenage followers rising to their feet in anticipation. In this, the first competitive game in the new stadium, there would be much to savour as the arena provided an inspiring home for such contests.

With ten minutes on the clock there was an appeal for a penalty as Russell Penn drove into the box before falling under the challenge of Marcio Santos Gaia. Penn went closer to scoring moments later as he beat two players to create space for a shot, which drifted wide of Julian's goal.

It was the result of a Penn foul that led to an intriguing set-play from Stevenage. Penn was booked for his challenge on Mitchell Cole on the edge of the area, but Stevenage fooled the entire wall with their short pass and shot that was deflected wide for a corner.

Kidderminster opened the scoring just after the half hour mark through James Constable as he reacted quickest to a lose ball in the six-yard area. The goal was certainly no masterpiece but it was typical predatory instincts from one of Kidderminsters key goal-threats.

Just five minutes later it was two and Constable was threatening to seal the Trophy before half-time. Iyseden Christie delivered a perfect flick to open up the defence and Constable strode through and fired the ball past a despairing Alan Julian.

The floodgates were endanger of opening prior to the interval as Stevenage struggled to cope with the speed of passing from their opponents.

Survive they did however, and how crucial it was that they kept the score to 2-0 as they raced out of the blocks in the second period and fought their way back into the game. Mitchell Cole struck back with a tremendous finish that reignited the Hertfordshire outfit's challenge.

A goalmouth scramble saw the ball break to Morison who carefully guided a pass through to Cole, and he made no mistake.

Kidderminster did their utmost to contain the early signs of a fightback, but the composure and slick passing that was their trademark in the first period seemed to desert them and Mark Stimson sensed his chance. Bringing Craig Dobson into proceedings was a stroke of genius as the pacy forward caused no end of problems.

With a quarter of an hour remaining Dobson levelled the scores with a tremendous finish, to the delight of the now buzzing Borough fans. Adam Miller fired a through pass between the Kidderminster defence that zipped up off the slick surface, but Dobson didn't give up and prodded the ball past Scott Bevan.

Unbelievably the comeback was complete with just two minutes of the game remaining, and who else but Steve Morison could score the winner? Scott Bevan saved the initial volley from Morison, but when the rebound fell kindly for the striker he smashed the ball into roof of the net to send the Stevenage fans into delirium.

Teams:

Kidderminster Harriers: 1 Scott Bevan, 2 Jeff Kenna, 4 Gavin Hurren, 5 Mark Creighton, 6 Stuart Whitehead (c), 11 Michael Blackwood, 15 Simon Russell, 16 Russell Penn, 18 Brian Smikle (14 Luke Reynolds 90), 22 Iyseden Christie (9 Andrew White 76), 26 James Constable
Subs Not Used: 13 Stephen Taylor, 7 Jacob Sedgemore, 17 Michael McGrath

Goals: Constable 32, 37

Stevenage Borough: 1 Alan Julian, 2 Barry Fuller, 3 John Nutter, 4 Luke Oliver, 6 Marcio Santos Gaia, 10 Adam Miller, 11 Mitchell Cole, 20 Steve Morison, 21 Steve Guppy (22 Craig Dobson 63), 25 Ronnie Henry, 26 Mark Beard
Subs Not Used: 16 Danny Potter, 7 Jamie Slabber, 9 Jon Nurse, 24 Daryl McMahon

Goals: Cole 51, Dobson 74, Morison 88

Referee: Chris Foy

Attendance: 53,262