Spot-on Tydd St Mary retained the Spalding Inter-Services Trophy after upsetting neighbours Long Sutton Athletic on penalties at Carter’s Park on Saturday.
In a game that saw four players sent off, ChromaSport PDFL Division One side Sutton looked set to take the trophy after Billy Oliver opened the scoring in the first half of extra time.
However, Division Two underdogs Tydd levelled through Tim Lowe four minutes from time – and then won the shoot-out 7-6 as keeper David Cooper made two saves.
After a largely even first 20 minutes, the first flashpoint of the game saw Sutton keeper Carl Taylor sent off for an alleged punch on Tydd’s Karl Smith, who was also booked for his initial foul.
The Magpies defied their numerical disadvantage and looked the more likely to score as the half progressed.
They were also given a boost before half-time when Smith picked up his second yellow card to level up the numbers.
With more than 300 fans watching, the two sides battled out a stalemate in the second half to force extra time.
It was then that Sutton struck, with skipper Oliver firing home a fine effort.
Two more red cards followed, with Paul Newcombe sent off for a late lung on Matt Cawthorn, who in turn was given a second yellow for his reaction to the tackle.
There was still time for Lowe to level in the 117th minute, running on to a Daniel Piccaver flick on to round the keeper and slot home.
That set up the penalty shoot-out, with Saints’s man-of-the-match Josh Slator converting the decisive spot-kick to clinch the trophy for his side in the same manner as last year.
Tydd’s co-managers Dan Monaghan and Carl Wilson were delighted with the win. Monaghan said: “This win shows everyone just how far we have come as club over these past five or six years.
“We have built, and continue to keep building, a good squad here and are looking to keep moving forward in the right direction.”
Wilson added: “Great credit goes to these lads. They were, to a man, brilliant. I would like to mention one other person at the club that often goes unseen in the background.
“Paul Clarke, who is the first team coach, has been invaluable to us these past two years and we couldn’t have done a lot of this without him.
“Also, the support for us tonight was tremendous. Thanks to everyone that made the effort. It was much appreciated.”
Sutton player/boss Cawthorn said: “We knew it was going to be fiery as it was local derby, but in my opinion the referee didn’t get hold of the game early enough. It was by no means a dirty game, despite the amount of cards.
“We didn’t play any football until the last half hour really.
“We knew Tydd would come at us, but they didn’t really cause us problems.
“That’s not sour grapes, they worked harder than us in the opening stages.
“Once it went to penalties, it was a lottery. Credit to all of the players involved, nobody deserved to lose on penalties.
“Credit to Tydd, everyone loves the underdogs and they bought a good few numbers to support them.
“A few players at Tydd could be playing at a higher standard of football, but that shows the close-knit bond at their club.”
Sutton: Taylor, Ramm, Bennett, Gedney, Brandon, B Oliver, Ward, M Oliver, Radeloff, Moses, Cawthorn. Subs used: Scase, Melton, Garner, Rumsey,
Tydd: Cooper, Burrell, Clayden, Smith, Kirkham,Pemberton, Newcombe, Rawthorn, Slator, Anslie, Furness. Subs used: Bradshaw, Lowe, Parker, Piccaver, Wiggins.
