AFC Fylde (0) 1 Rowe 60
Leyton Orient (0) 0
Combined Attendance: 42,962
Admission: £5 Senior (both matches)
Programme: £5
Mileage: 100/7,682
Match Report
.....Thankfully, the fact that we had extra time shortened the period of time between the matches and not wanting to indulge in the overpriced Wembley fodder, it was a mere overpriced cup of PG and a chance to catch up with those whose paths seen to converge virtually every game of late (Hello again Alan B) and those not seen since much earlier in the season as was the case with SUFC Phil
And so to the final contest of the season to conclude this seasons Trophy meanderings which IMHO had a surprising outcome with AFC Fylde 1 v 0 Leyton Orient.
Surprising that in the context, mistakenly thought that Fylde's seemingly pitiful performance against Salford 8 days prior would carry over. However, what was much more noticeable in the first half was the fact that many of the Orient players gave the collective impression that the winning of the Conference title was the pinnacle of their season and that the mere Trophy is the footnote of the season. After a bright opening, Orient 'lost their way' during a first period where increasingly Fylde looked the more impressive.
Orient would be grateful to Brill for making important saves from the likes of Rowe, Reid et al but in the closing minutes of the half came the miss of the day when Bond sliced wide from close range for Fylde. In contrast Orient only made periodic inroads in the opposite direction with many of the players minds seemingly fixed on summer hols rather than a Trophy Final.
The second half was a tale of two free kicks both taken approximately 22 yards out. For Orient a perfectly flighted effort from Maguire-Drew over the wall struck the base of the post with Lynch in the Fylde goal rooted. For Fylde it was the turn of Rowe with an equally perfectly flighted effort over the wall that was in contrast to the earlier attempt just inside the post and Brill in the Orient goal was equally rooted to the ground. You had to have a smidgeon of sympathy for Orient as their holiday plans were temporarily dispensed with as Ekpiteta's header came back off the post and to conclude a trilogy of strikes against the woodwork, a penetrating run from Widdowson ended with an angled drive against the base of the far post. Fylde equally had the opportunities to enhance their advantage but Reid had a wasteful afternoon skying chances wide and high over but given Orient's first half disengagement from proceedings, I was content that Fylde lifted the Trophy and unlike Chertsey have the opportunity to defend their win next season, though of course the next instalment of Project 2022 and the push towards the holy grail of League 2 will no doubt prevail.
Fourth Finals Day attended and there is a realisation of what to expect with the bag restrictions, searches, inabilities to transfer between sections (though I should add that one of our party did manage it in pursuit of ale and seemingly caused a diplomatic incident) and the whole ethos of the day. The difficulty lies with the fact that the vast majority of the games seen do not entail such difficulties but the FA appear to be happy with the fact that both finals are on the same day and I doubt that anything will even remotely change for the 19-20 episode.
And so I say goodbye to season 2018/19 and what a momentous season it has been. I have become a director of my boyhood club, I role I absolutely love and cherish and that joy has been embellished by Tonbridge Angels' promotion and return to National South. Many games, many miles but it is the people that make it worthwhile and I look forward to renewing those acquaintances when preseason resumes on 29th June, not that long away but wishing the time away!
Lifetime match total: 2,974
Number of grounds: 335
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