| Gadeside Rangers produced a classy and professional display to see off a spirited Leavesden Green side as they retained their Birkdale Challenge Cup title and completed their second successive double. Goals from Dan Campbell (two), Russ Popplewell, Tom Mitchell and brothers Tom and Ed Shurville ensured their would be no upset as Gadeside Rangers Football Club claimed their third piece of silverware of the season. |
| Gadeside were in dominant mood from the word go and played some slick and decisive passing as they put Leavesden on the backfoot from the word go. Tom Shurville went close to opening the scoring with a powerful run from midfield but his low effort was just past the post. Tom Mitchell was next to go close as his 25 yard free-kick crashed against the outside of the post with the keeper stranded. Dan Campbell then somehow managed to turn the ball over the bar from 6 yards after a low left wing cross by Russ Popplewell as Gadeside continued to dominate but couldn't ball the ball in the back of the net. Leavesden gave a reminder that they were not there to make up the numbers when a powerful cross found Paul Craig who might have done better than heading wastefully wide. Tom Shurville saw another low drive go just wide of the upright and then saw his header from a right wing corner headed off the line by a defender. The deadlock was finally broken on 29 minutes when Danny Everritt released Dan Campbell on the right channel and with the Leavesden keeper rushing out to no-mans-land, Campbell defty lobbed the ball over him and into the empty net. |
| Russ Popplewell thought he had doubled the lead shortly after when his left wing corner was missed by the keeper and was hacked off the line though the ball seemed a good yard over the line. Tariq Khan fired wildy over and Campbell saw another effort drop the wrong side of the post when it seemed easier to score. The lead was doubled on 42 minutes when Russ Popplewell danced his way through the Leavesden defence before beating the keeper at the near post for a fantastic solo goal. The second half was more of the same as Gadeside enjoyed long spells of possession and knocked the ball around well. When the third goal arrived on the hour, it was a goal that will be remembered for a long time. Gadeside moved the ball across the pitch twice with the impressive Daniel Brooks pulling the strings in midfield. The ball was worked out to Tariq Khan who set up Danny Everritt whose first time cross found Dan Campbell who superbly volleyed into the top corner. Tom Mitchell brought a good save from the Leavesden keeper before finally grabbing his first goal since February when turning home a low cross by sub Ed Shurville. |
| With Leavesden clearly tiring, Gadeside attacked at will in the final few minutes. Ed Shurville got himself on the scoresheet when he neatly fired past the keeper after being sent through by Dan Campbell while Tom Oliver smartly saved low his to his right after Fieldstead won a header from a right wing free kick. Tom Shurville grabbed the sixth in the 86th minute when rode two challenges before firing into the far corner. Leavesden grabbed a consolation in the final minute when James Bridges headed into his own net following another free-kick from the left. Gadeside were able to celebrate their sixth trophy since formation and leave the Olympian league with their heads held high. Dan Campbell was awarded the man of the match award by the cup sponsors. |
| Tom Oliver, Danny Everritt, Justyn Walcott (Ian Freeman), Matt Evans, James Bridges, Daniel Brooks, Tariq Khan, Tom Shurville, Tom Mitchell (Kevin Putman), Dan Campbell, Russ Popplewell (Ed Shurville) |