We Are The Stags Online

A storming display of finishing by two goal Jermain Hughes led the Stags to the final of the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in many years. His attacking prowess and the impeccable display of defenders Marc Ward, Carlos Brown, Glen Harvey and ‘keeper Charlie Hasler meant that their higher division opposition barely got a look in in the second half of the game.

The game started with Swifts in full flight as they swung the ball over all areas of the park and it took fifteen minutes for the Stags to come to terms with this as they defended resolutely. It took until that time for the Stags to have their first shot whilst Swifts should have been ahead by two goals.

The first half ended in equality but the second half was a different story. The Stags kept Swifts down to only long range shots whilst their won front runners began to get to the goal line and put in their crosses.

The Stalemate was broken on 54 minutes when Papy Kanyuka beat the left back and swung over a cross which Hughes headed in neatly at the far post, the ‘keeper having been pulled towards the front post. Both Marc Ward and Wesley Thomas went close on a number of occasions whilst the Stags applied the pressure.

Hughes popped up once again twenty minutes later to head home from a corner after the Swifts defence had taken their eyes off him once again. Then it was left for Wes Thomas to seal the tie with four minutes of the match left when he broke through. the middle of the static Swifts defence to shoot home under the advancing ‘keeper.

The only question left is whether this was the semi final or the final. With both of the other semi finalists under FA and Essex FA investigation after their tie was abandoned for an all out pitch brawl, it is possible that both teams could be thrown out of the competition. One remembers us being thrown out of the competition for playing an ineligible player. On those grounds the FA should give them both a fair play award and let them play in the final!