3 May 2008
VIDEO: National League System Cup Final
Two goals in the first six minutes set an early tone, but after extra-time Southern Amateur League win on penalties.

Midland Football Combination (Div One)

1-1

Southern Amateur League

Fellows pen 4

 

Haynes 6

(Southern Amateur League won 4-2 on penalties)
FA Carlsberg National League System Cup
The Final
7.30pm, Saturday 3 May 2008
Ricoh Arena, Coventry City FC

Bob Leeds and his team started their journey to the National League System Cup Final with a trip to the Kent County League back in February 2007.

So, Leeds and his players from the Southern Amateur Football League Team were not complaining when they came to the end of the line in the form of a penalty shoot-out at Coventry City’s Ricoh Arena, late on a Saturday night in May over a year later.

Leeds and co. could have even more exciting trips ahead as they have now won the right to represent England in the UEFA Regions Cup.

But it would have felt like a long road home from Coventry had it not been for the goalkeeping heroics of Dan Ashley and the cool finishing of Nick Haynes, who combined to help the side to a 4-2 shoot-out win over the Midland Combination, after the game had finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Haynes had earlier equalised for the Southern Amateur League team two minutes after Ashley had given away a fourth minute penalty which was scored by Midland’s Karl Fellows.

The final could have gone either way after that thrilling start and Leeds said afterwards: “I’m delighted for the players. It is never nice winning on penalties, but I’ll take it.

“This has been a wonderful tournament and the FA has treated us fantastically from the moment we kicked off in the first match – from there to the last.

“For the players at this level to play at a stadium such as the Ricoh Arena is very special and it is very good for grassroots football.

“I told my players to take quick free-kicks in the first ten minutes of the match, but we got caught out by taking one too quickly and conceded the penalty for their goal.

“But the players showed great character to recover and we replied straight away. Nick Haynes took his goal brilliantly and I am delighted that he scored the wining penalty too – he deserved it.”