ANDY PIERCY
Newbury Park 0 West Essex 2
With the pitch at Billericay in good condition both sides were keen to get the ball down and knock it around but neither team gave the other time on the ball with hard but fair tackles being the order of the day. West Essex tried to set the pace as they sought to get the first leg of a Cup and League double but Newbury Park were keen in defence and allowed them little room to exploit their forwards speed. However on fifteen minutes a rare lapse in concentration by Newbury Park gave Chris Bangura a opportunity to put his side one up and he duly delivered. In this hard fought encounter there were few clear cut opportunities but one that came Newbury Parks' way was spurned and the score remained at 1-0 til half time. The second period produced the same quality of an eagerly contested game with both sides only managing half chances. That changed thirty minutes into the second period when a break-way down the left by Anthony Chuck saw him cross into the path of Chris Bangura who tucked it away with ease. Despite pressing for the remainder of the game Newbury Park could not find the net so West Essex ran out winners by 2-0.
Squads
West Essex: Don Bolessa, Craig Lethbridge, Marvin Houston, Richard Kent, Stephen Warren, Chris Warren, Andrew Morgan, Matthew Casper, Clay Vache, Ken Bonsu, Dave Ludlow, Greg Blackett, Yomi Adu, Jason Richards, Andrew Branchflower, Anthony Chuck, Chris Bangura.
Newbury Park: Laurence Archibald, Marc Bergonzi, Joe Bloomberg, Glen Brook, Rob Franklin, Gary Fuller, Dave Hellen, Casca Hoy, Michael Karby, Paul Lamb, Matthew Milburn, Wayne Reader, Martin Smith, Iain Thomas, Peter Ward, Daryl Wood.
Officials: Referee John Roberts Assistant Referees Dave Brignall and Richard Marsh.
Fourth Official Mark Rose.
The Trophies were presented to the teams by League Stalwart Stuart Higson