| A disasterous five minute spell at the start of the second half effectively ended this game as Gadeside pressed the self-destruct button as they suffered cup final heartache. It could - and should, have been so different had Gadeside converted a series of first half chances which proved costly. |
| Gadeside were able to welcome back Rob Metcalf from suspension while Russ Popplewell also made his first start since January. Both sides were up for it from the start with Jay Evans and Popplewell dictating from midfield. The first chance of the game fell to Shanton Towle when he pounced on a defensive mistake he found himself clear on goal. However, with the ball bobbling all of the place he squared to Tom Mitchell was blazed over with the linesman's flag raised for offside. Adam Gallichan should have scored for the visitors but he sidefooted wide from 16 yards. |
| Tom Mitchell was proving to be a constant thorn in the Headstone defence and he twice went close. Firstly, his header from an Ivanz Mani corner was cleared off the line. He then found himself free from 10 yards but his snap shot was straight at the keeper. Towle and Mani both fired over as Gadeside enjoy control of the game. But the missed chances proved costly as Headstone took the lead on 33 minutes. Headstone took a quick free kick and, with the Gadeside defence napping, Brian Jones hit a low drive from the edge of the box. It seemed to take an age to go in - but go in it did. |
| However, Gadeside were not behind for long and drew level in contraversial circumstances. After spilling the ball on the edge of his area, the Headstone keeper brought down Ivanz Mani was left with the simple task of stroking home. Referee Dignum awarded Gadeside a penalty but did not send the keeper off. Adam Hills stepped up to convert the penalty for his 24th of the season. Gadeside were dealt a blow minutes before the break when Russ Popplewell limped off with a recurrence of the same knee injury which had plagued him all season. He was replaced by Gary Cook. At half-time - Gadeside had been the better side and had belief they could go on to win the game. |
| The second half was a sorry affair as the game was won within 5 minutes. Adam Gallichan chased a long ball over the defence to stroke past Metcalf before Jason Choat and Brian Jones completed the rout after more comical defending by Gadeside. The goals took everything out of Gadeside - and even the sending off of Brian Jones for a horrific two footed stamp on Matt Evans could not raise them and they were left to ponder what might have been. |
| Rob Metcalf, Ian Freeman, Jason Brownhill, Danny Everritt (Ben Higginson), Matt Evans (Tariq Khan), Jay Evans, Russ Popplewell (Gary Cook), Ivanz Mani, Tom Mitchell, Shanton Towle and Adam Hills |