KNOCKOUT CUP FINAL: Fans of both Corsham Centre A and Pheasant FC enjoyed the glorious sunshine at Hardenhuish Park, home of Chippenham Town FC on Sunday as they witnessed a nail biting final of the reebrooks sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup that was won with an injury time winner from the Centre who were despite dominating the first 45 minutes were lucky to come away with the trophy after a gallant performance from second division opponents Pheasant FC.

Premier division outfit Corsham Centre started as favourites to lift the cup for the third time in the last five years, but as predicted they didn’t have everything their own way as they battled to a 2-1 win.

The Centre had the first real chance of a pulsating game in the third minute when Liam Ralph played in Simon Gray who shot straight at keeper Kent Kauppinen.

The game then settled down and the next real chance again fell to Gray but his shot just flashed wide of the goal in the 24th minute. The Centre upped the pace of the game and they were cutting the Pheasant apart at will and it looked on a matter of time before they would make the breakthrough, firstly Tim Jefferies crossed to Shane Godsell whose goal bound effort was scrambled of the line by Kane Kauppinen and then Jefferies blazed a shot from 20 yards side of the target in the 31st minutes Moments later Centre took the lead when the energetic Simon Gray weaved his way past two defenders and into the area where he finished with aplomb to give the Centre a deserved lead.

Pheasant may have been a goal down but they didn’t give up and just as the first half was drawing to a close they had the chance to level but Liam Phillimore headed over from eight yards out.

The second half was a totally different affair to the first as Pheasant went in search of an equaliser that duly arrived on 57 minutes with from their first real attack of the game, a long throw from Kane Kauppinen was flicked on by Jack Coathupe to Paul Poiner who headed Pheasant level.

On 64 minutes James Lye missed a glorious opportunity to put the Centre in front when he blasted over from six yards and soon after keeper Kauppinen had to be alert to keep out a Lye shot and block Ross Lye who was following up the rebound.

From then on it was mostly the Pheasant as they went in search of a winner and only a great block for James Lye denied Poiner on 90 minutes but the Centre broke away and the ball found Gray who beat his marker and crossed the ball to James Cauldwell who broke Pheasant’s hearts when he found the net from 10 yards out to give the Centre their win.

League president, Ken Clarke presented both club with their memento’s of the final, and winning captain Matthew Ralph picked up the Knockout Cup much to the delight of his fellow team mates. The Centre’s Simon Gray was the player of the match.