Here is an archive match report from Alveston2000 when they were the Under 10s last season 2009-10
After winning the League on Weds Alveston completed a great week by beating Warwick Juniors 2-1 in the Cup final to complete a well deserved double. With two key players in Alan Mackinnon and Jamie Dyson unable to play the omens were not good for this game and when Alveston went a goal down in the first 5 mins after a cross shot just crept in this Cup final had all the makings of a massive challenge.
To the credit of the team and management, Alveston duly rose to this and their gritty determination and resolve to play football eventually paid off. Warwick were confident in their lead but even though they pushed on they could not create as Greaves and O'leary battled hard in in defence with solid tackles and last ditched clearances. Slowly though the game began to change as Connor, Ricketts and Stephens in midfield started to see more of the ball and when Ricketts made a diagonal run from the left hand side towards goal to then shoot past the keeper it was game on again.
The 2nd half proved to be the most tense affair. Notably Greaves never stopped winning the ball with thunderous headers away from goal and with key interceptions and to support this Stephens and O'leary ran and ran to chase down seemingly lost causes. Foley and Ricketts backed up by this indomitable display pushed on looking for the winner but when efforts from Connor , Foley and Ol'eary went close but not close enough it seemed there could be a cruel end to the game.
Indeed, when Warwick counter attacked if it had not been for the outstretched foot of goalkeeper Zak Shirley Warwick could have won the game with mins left. Amazingly as Alveston pushed on again and with just 15 secs left on the clock Warwick could again have won the game but were denied by an off the line clearance by Greaves.
In extra time though Alveston made no mistake as their self belief and determination showed through. In the first period Alveston simply attacked and attacked . Foley battled hard to win possession on the edge of the box and when he passed to an unmarked Stephens in the box Stephens made no mistake as he steadied himself to shoot calmly past the keeper.
The 2nd period again showed Alveston's defensive organisation. On numerous occasions as Warwick threatened to make progress into the box Charlie Warden was on hand to cover his exhausted colleagues with key clearances in his assured manner. When the final whistle went there was great joy and celebration in the Alveston ranks as they realised they had achieved their dreams at the end of a long hard season.
