The sun shines on Chilvers with League Cup win

The sun was beating down on the Elgoods Stadium, Wisbech, and the stage was set.

Oasis v Blur, Coke v Pepsi, PlayStation v X-Box. All big rivalries, but none as big as England’s Hope v Chilvers – two powerhouses of the Sunday League and all littered with mutual respect.

Chilvers were back in the league after a one-year sabbatical and England’s Hope are one of the league’s longest serving teams.

Both teams had history as previous winners of multiple trophies, but only one could prevail.

Hope and Chilvers both came out fired up and the predicted blood and thunder battle lived up to its billing.

Full-blooded challenges were going in and both teams were hell-bent on not giving an inch.

Hope created the best of the chances in the first half with the bar hit twice and Chilvers, led by Joe Jackson, were threatening on the break.

No goals came in the first half and picking a winner was an impossible task.

Chilvers created a few chances of their own in the second half but Hope’s mean defence was more than a match.

The game seemed to be played out in the ‘no-mans land’ of midfield with both teams cancelling each other out.

Until the 89th minute that is. The game was to be decided on a penalty given to Chilvers with a minute remaining.

Dean Jimson in goal got a strong hand to Neil Goodbourn’s penalty after diving low to his left, but the ball squeezed just inside the post for a lead Chilvers had a couple of minutes injury time to defend.

Chilvers held firm and confirmed themselves as the League Cup champions on their first season back.

England’s Hope were presented with the Gould Barbers April Team of the Month award before the game and the Division One championship after the game.

A big thank you as ever to Wisbech Town FC for their amazing hospitality and contribution to grassroots football in West Norfolk.

Thanks also to Gordon Chilvers of Double G Clothing who presented all the trophies.

Sunday sees the final two games of the season at The Walks, home of King’s Lynn Town Lynn Football Club.

The Cherrington Cup final between Chilvers and Woodman’s Cottage kicks-off at 10.30am and the Queen Elizabeth Cup final between Southery ASA and CSKA Reserves is at 1.30pm. Admission is £3 for adults and £1 for under 16s. This covers both games.