JOE Chester fired home a 92nd minute winner as Cornard United were crowned winners of the Suffolk FA Under-18 Youth Cup sponsored by Days Sports on Thursday night.
Chester kept calm and picked his spot just inside the near post to net the winner as Cornard defeated Needham Market 2-1 in the final at Bury Town FC.
As a spectacle the final never reached any great heights as underdogs Cornard staged a come-from-behind victory.
They had fallen behind in the 26th minute when Matt Poxon slid the ball through the centre of defence for Ace Howell to break clear and shoot wide of Paddi Hawkins. Clear-cut chances were at a premium, but Cornard’s equaliser came courtesy of one of the best moves of the match.
Half-time substitute Mathew Ince broke down the right and crossed for Chester, who laid the ball out to the left wing to Callum Hunt whose low driven cross was turned into his own net by Ben Hope.
Cornard had used all three substitutes as manager Steve Chester rang the changes, before Needham made a double change in the 70th minute.A third switch followed due to an injury to Poxon, and it was his replacement, Leigh Radbourne, who squandered the best chance of the night.
Brendon Heath made a driving run forward and his shot forced Hawkins into a diving save low to his right.
The ball fell for Radbourne, who had been on the pitch for less than a minute, but he shot against the foot of the near post when it appeared easier to score.
With the prospect of 30 minutes of extra time looming in the second of five minutes of injury time Cameron Ward squared the ball inside to the unmarked Chester who took his time before sending a chest-high shot beyond James Bradbrook.
The trophy and medals were presented by Keith Mills of Bury St Edmunds sports equipment supplier & sponsors Days Sports and Andy Reynolds, manager of the Suffolk FA Under-18 side.