Terrific Tydd St Mary made it two cup wins this season when they beat Whittlesey Athletic A 3-0 at Yaxley to lift the ChromaSport PDFL Intermediate Shield on Friday night.
Much like in the Spalding Inter-Services final, the Division Three Saints were underdogs once again as they took to the pitch against a Whittlesey A side from a division above.
However, it was Tydd who started the stronger on a great In2itive Park 3G surface – and they were unlucky to have a goal disallowed for offside when man-of-the-match Dan Piccaver rose to head home after just four minutes.
The assistant referee raised his flag for offside, though, and it remained 0-0.
Both teams competed well in a tough-tackling first half, but it was the Saints who edged it performance-wise and they were left a little disappointed by the half-time stalemate.
That all changed after the interval as Tydd came out with the bit between their teeth for the second half and deservedly took the lead on 56 minutes.
Stu Easey floated a great corner in from the right that was half dealt with by a Whittlesey defender. But the ball fell to Will Kirkham on the edge of the box – and he duly volleyed a deflected effort into the back of the net for 1-0.
Whittlesey piled on the pressure as the half went on and came back into the game as it neared its end.
But it was the Saints that finished the final in style.
With 90 minutes on the clock, the South Holland side clicked into another gear to finish the game off. First, Paul Clarke fed a delicious ball in for Dale Parnell to run onto.
He beat a defender and then slotted past the keeper at his near post for the trophy-clinching second goal.
Better was to follow, with Jason Powley chipping a stranded keeper from all of 45 yards for the goal of the game and a final score of 3-0.
Buzzing Saints supremo Carl Wilson said: “I just want to say a big thank you to all of the Tydd lads. Two cup final wins in one season do not come around very often.
“Every one of them should be proud of what they have achieved. They will all look back at this season in years to come with fond memories.
“I hope they enjoy it and relish it. It is a real privilege to be their gaffer.”
Tydd SM: Cooper, Clayden, Easey, Lowe, Pemberton, Piccaver, Powley, Slator, Thrower, Kirkham, Parnell. Subs: Ainslie, Clarke, Furness, Reims, Tordoff.
Attendance: 212.
