CT66 Reserves secure double

CT66 F.C. Reserves 1 Rayleigh Town F.C. A 0

Having already secured the Division One League title CT66 took the next step in their bid for a treble as they took on Rayleigh Town in the Division One League Cup Final.

CT were odds on favourites but Rayleigh gave an excellent account of themselves as they made the team from Canvey work hard on the night.

CT applied early pressure, but Patrick Mills from Rayleigh create the first opportunity but saw his header go wide. Rayleigh tried to absorb the pressure and play on the break. Their defence stayed strong and early on managed to thwart the attacking threat that CT clearly had.

Kalvin Armstrong who came into the game early from the subs bench drove wide, before CT began to apply greater pressure.

On 20 minutes Tom Trower from CT broke clear but drove wide.

It took until 43 minutes before CT saw a clear sight of the Rayleigh goal and that was enough to break the deadlock. The ball broke clear and there was Matt Hubbard on hand to drill the ball home.

Just before the half time whistle CT believed they had a strong claim for a penalty but the Referee waved it away

Half Time CT66 F.C. Reserves 1 Rayleigh Town F.C. A 0

CT came out strong and created two early chances from corners but failed to convert any.

On 58 minutes Matt Van Lint from Rayleigh saw a free kick well saved by Jordan Blackwell in the CT goal.

On 66 minutes the woodwork came to the rescue of Rayleigh as a header from CT thundered against the cross bar.

Tensions reached boiling point when a mass confrontation involving most of the players from both sides led to the first cautions of the game.
Rayleigh continued to test the CT defence but failed to create any meaningful opportunities.
We saw history created in injury time as Referee Richard Ramjane will go in the League archives as being the first official to sin bin during a Cup Final when he sent Rayleigh’s Owen Cooper into the bin for dissent.
That was the last meaningful point of the game as shortly after the game ended with CT66 Reserves winning the double
Full Time CT66 F.C. Reserves 1 Rayleigh Town F.C. 0