Eagles take pride in cup triumph over Lions

Canterbury Eagles 2 City Lions 1

After netting the League Championship and enjoying a taste of silverware last season, Canterbury Eagles Men’s Team had their sights set on retaining their promoted status and getting their hands on a cup in 2023/24.

Having secured the league spot for another season, it was onto the business of winning the Junior Charity Cup final.

So, on a sweltering afternoon at the Belmont Stadium, home to Whitstable FC, the 16-strong squad took on City Lions FC in what proved to be a close-fought contest.

The first half was a cagey affair with both teams finding their feet on the pitch and adapting to the heat. Eagles keeper Adam Dudfield made an outstanding save in a one-on-one situation with City’s striker.

After the initial 45 the score line stood 0-0 so it was anybody’s for the taking when the second half kicked off.

Eagles came out strong and looking to press, a tactic that paid off just 12 minutes later when Ben Philips connected with Sam Cooper who rolled it deftly into the bottom corner.

Sensing that a single goal might not be enough to claim victory, Eagles pressed for a second with Philips again the provider, this time for Chuks Umunna to calmly slot home for an Eagles brace with 76 minutes on the clock.

The opposition pulled one back with a header from a corner and it was game on. Sheer exhaustion got the better of Eagles Allun Parkin when he was gifted the chance to wrap things up, but fortunately the Canterbury lads had done enough, and the cup was theirs.

Choosing a Man of the Match was impossible as all 16 players put a proper shift in!

Squad: Mark Anderson, Tom Carden, Marcus Clement, Chris Delaney, Adam Dudfield, Alfie Hill, Sol Hollingsbee, Taylor Hollingsbee, Benjamin Phillips, Chukwuma Umunna, Allun Parkin, Sam Cooper, Matthew Dudfield, Charlie Hildred, Ashton Hollingsbee, Joe Small