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Joe Lennon Memorial Cup Final:

Joff ensures a fairy tale ending

 

Milford United 1 - Hakin United 1

(Milford United won 3-2 on penalties)

 

Referee: Roy Boswell.

Assistants: Steve Badham and Gareth Elliott.

Venue: Marble Hall, Milford Haven.

Milford United became the inaugural winners of the Joe Lennon Memorial Cup as they beat favourites Hakin United on penalties after the game had finished 1-1 in normal time.
And in a fitting tribute to his late father, the winning penalty was scored by Joe's son, Joff Lennon, after Paul Jones had missed for The Vikings.
The game was played in front of a large Marble Hall crowd, and following a two minute silence prior to kick off, they were treated to a frantic opening period. Greg Thomas headed a clear chance wide for the Robins just two minutes in, and moments later the striker went close again when he was just beaten to Lennon's through ball by Hakin keeper Adrian Devonald. At the other end, Jonathan Bennett nearly capitalised on a mistake by Robins keeper Jason Rickard, but Chris Davies was on hand to make a vital clearance.

Goodall grabs Robins’ goal and Jonah misses golden chance

As the game settled down, Hakin enjoyed the greater share of possession but rarely threatened the Milford goal, with centre backs William Goodall and Jonathan Fawcett in solid form. In fact it was Goodall, who bravely played on after sustaining an early head injury, who broke the deadlock when he headed in a Jason Hicks corner on 36 minutes.
Hakin then lost Jamie Harding to injury before coming close to an equaliser right on half time. Scott Davies and Steve Mathias combined to play in Jones, but the deadly striker was denied by a superb cover tackle from right back Davies.
Gary Dawes’ men came out the stronger side after half time and after Mathias shot straight at Rickard, substitute Justin Harding levelled matters. Again Davies was on hand to block a Bennett shot, but the rebound fell to Harding who tapped in from eight yards.
Moments later, and Harding should have had a second but lobbed wide after Bennett's flick on.

 

Fantastic finish

Matthew Broome then had a close range shot blocked by Rickard before at the other end Fawcett, pushed up front by the Robins for the last 20 minutes, shot wide under pressure from Devonald.
Bennett, Davies, and Jones all went close for Hakin late on, before Fawcett again had a late chance to win it but failed to direct his back post header. Referee Roy Boswell then blew the final whistle, and with both managers having agreed not to play extra time beforehand, the game went straight to penalties.
After four spot kicks each, the scores were locked at 2-2 with Harding and Mathias both on target for Hakin, and Ashley Bevan and Steve Allen missing. For Milford, Lee Dennison and Ashley Mathias found the net but there were misses from Fawcett and Paul James.
Striker Jones then had a frustrating night compounded when he shot straight at Rickard, before Lennon sent Devonald the wrong way to spark celebrations amongst the Robins’ players and supporters.
"I'm just ecstatic for Joff," said Milford manager Phil Marchant. "You couldn't have written that ending and it was a fitting way for us to win it. We battled well tonight and that performance shows we can compete in the first division."

Special presentations

Prior to the match there was a moving presentation of the trophy by Dieter and Hannah Luebbe, of sponsors South Hook LNG, accompanied by Mariam Dalziel, to Joff Lennon – and during the after-match presentations, Bill Carne of PembrokeshireSport.co.uk, paid a glowing tribute to Joe Lennon, before tournament organiser Stuart Macdonald helped presented the cup to the Robins, ably assisted by Joe’s four year old grandson, Dylan. Chris Davies was awarded man of the match by Milford Mercury reporter Fraser Watson to round off a thoroughly entertaining evening which was a great tribute to a real gentleman of sport.

 

Milford United: Jason Rickard, Neil Mathias, Chris Davies, Jonathan Fawcett, William Goodall, Ashley Mathias, Joff Lennon, Scott Griffiths, Chris Thompson, Greg Thomas, Jason Hicks. Subs (all used) Bradley Cristofaro, Lee Dennison, Ryan Mansell, Elliot Cristofaro, Paul James.
Hakin United: Adrian Devonald, Matthew Broome, Scott Davies, Ewan Findlay, Steve Allen, Jonathan Bennett, Paul Jones, Ryan Wilson, Ashley Bevan, Steve Mathias, Jamie Harding. Subs (all used) Aaron Owens, Tristan Carlson, Andrew Kingston, Kieran Rendell, Justin Harding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHOTOS:

Winners Milford United.

Beaten finalists Hakin United.

Joff Lennon, Dylan (Joe's grandson) and Jason Rickard.
Man of the match Chris Davies.
Referee Roy Boswell, flanked by Steve Badham and Gareth Elliott.
Jason Rickard saves Jonah's penalty.
Joff Lennon nets the winning penalty.

 

Pictures by Bill Carne of Pembrokeshiresport.co.uk