HENRY SWERNER CUP FINAL (sponsored by Visualeyes Opticians and Sunglasses Barnet)
BRADY MACCABI 2 CHIGWELL ATHLETIC 1
Having won the trophy for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012, Brady lost out last season as Chigwell took the trophy with a 4-1 victory, and Chigwell began this year’s final as clear favourites.
And the east Londoners started the brighter of the two teams with Adam Stolerman and Steve Summers looking sharp and menacing up front, but Brady held their nerve and were rewarded on 25 minutes when Scott Warren broke down the right wing and his far post cross was headed in by Mark Wagman.
Chigwell very nearly hit back immediately, in an evenly contested match, but a Summers cross from the left was met by Rob Donn whose header hit the underside of the bar before being cleared.
Five minutes later, however, Chigwell did level things, when a rasping drive from Stolerman was brilliantly saved by Paul Gelernter in the Brady goal, but he could only parry the shot to Russell Yershon, who buried the rebound into the bottom right-hand corner.
The remainder of the first period belonged to Chigwell, and they came agonisingly close to scoring on several occasions, with Brady ‘keeper Gelernter making a series of exceptional saves to deny Chigwell the lead.
After the respite of half-time, Brady emerged with greater purpose, and were soon back in front when Davidson headed in a corner from close range. And Brady soon had a chance to extend their lead when they found themselves three on one in the Chigwell area, but Warren blazed over.
As the game opened up, with chances at both ends, Brady looked the more assured of the two teams, their defence holding strong and their midfield increasingly in control, and their eventual victory was well deserved.
Presenting the trophies, Guest of Honour Gary Swerner praised the effort and spirit of all the players, and singled out Paul Gelernter for special praise in keeping Chigwell at bay, but nominated Brady’s Mark Wagman as the recipient of the Peter Moss Man of the Match award.
And as a member of the North West Neasden team that won the inaugural Henry Swerner Trophy back in 2006, it was fitting that Swerner should be the one to present the Cup to this season’s worthy winners.
