Latest news with #FA Trophy
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aldershot end 99-year Wembley wait with sunshine and champagne showers
It took Aldershot 99 years and two football clubs to reach Wembley and for almost exactly as many minutes on a sun-kissed May afternoon they made themselves entirely at home there, outnumbering their opponents in the stands and outplaying them on the pitch on their way to claiming their first FA Trophy. Second-half goals from Jack Barham, Dan Ellison and Josh Barrett earned the National League side a 3-0 win over Spennymoor Town of the National League North, and secured for their manager, Tommy Widdrington, a dream end to a season temporarily derailed when he had two strokes in November. Widdrington was back in the dugout in less than two months having acquired, as he put it in the buildup to this game, 'a certain sense of perspective'. This was an excellent, mature performance, whatever way you look at it. 'People will forget about me. That's what happens in football. But they'll never forget how I've made them feel, how my team's made them feel,' Widdrington said. 'Football's a tough old industry. It kicks you up the backside a lot more than it pats you on the back. I'm going to enjoy being patted on the back the next few days.' For Aldershot, who sprang from the ashes of Aldershot FC in 1992, this was an emphatic win but, from the moment they accidentally left two members of their starting XI behind when they set off for Wembley, not a completely carefree one. Spennymoor had beaten three National League sides on their way to Wembley and there were moments when they threatened another upset, notably creating the best chance of the opening half only for Rob Ramshaw to send a miserably meek shot rolling into Marcus Dewhurst's arms from eight yards. 'Nine times out of 10 he'd have put that in the back of the net,' said Graeme Lee, the Spennymoor manager. 'We've had our moments throughout this cup run, and today we didn't take them.' The game shifted three minutes after the interval when James Henry ran down the right and crossed, and though the ball arrived slightly behind Barham he somehow contorted his leg into a position to get some kind of contact on it. His touch turned out to be perfect, sending it rolling gently but unstoppably into the corner of the net. 'That goal changed everything,' said Lee. 'It deflated us and took the energy out of us a little bit, and we couldn't get back into it.' Aldershot arrived in poor form, having won just one game since Barnham's last-minute goal earned them a 2-1 win over 10-man Woking in the semi-finals. But once in front they played with the cocksure strut of champions and in the 71st minute Ellison glanced in a header from a corner to make the game all but safe. Three minutes from time Barrett, their player of the season, produced the kind of goal all players dream of scoring in this stadium, a splendid left-footed volley from the edge of the area that dipped over James and into the corner of the net. Tyler Frost and Maxwell Mullins both missed chances to score a fourth as the Moors flung themselves forward in search of consolation. Earlier Jamie Coyle, centre-back, two-time (Seniors) World Cup-winner, Whitstable player-manager and playing his final competitive game just days before his 42nd birthday, led his team from the back to a 2-1 victory over Whyteleafe in the FA Vase final, decided after extra time when, on a balmy, sun-kissed afternoon at Wembley, Leafe finally wilted. Whyteleafe, another phoenix club, have enjoyed remarkable success since their creation in 2021 and when Daniel Bennett gave them a 17th-minute lead they seemed set for still more. But Whitstable have now lost only two of their past 28 games – and one of those was on penalties – and they fought back to eventually turn over the new Leafe. Daniel Colmer produced a couple of outstanding saves to keep his side in the game before the Oystermen finally came out of their shell in the second half, and seven minutes into it their top scorer, Harvey Smith, equalised from 20 yards, running on to Nathan Jeche's precise pass and wrongfooting George Hill, who let the ball whistle just a yard or so to his right. Leafe repeatedly threatened to steal victory but it was Whitstable who claimed it: in the 97th minute Albie O'Mara-Knapp crossed from the right and Ronald Sithole somehow scuffed his shot into a post. But he made up for it three minutes later when he ran on to the same player's long punt forward, reclaimed the ball after Hill saved his initial effort, worked a better angle for a shot, and lashed into the roof of the net.
The Guardian
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Aldershot end 99-year Wembley wait with sunshine and champagne showers
It took Aldershot 99 years and two football clubs to reach Wembley and for almost exactly as many minutes on a sun-kissed May afternoon they made themselves entirely at home there, outnumbering their opponents in the stands and outplaying them on the pitch on their way to claiming their first FA Trophy. Second-half goals from Jack Barham, Dan Ellison and Josh Barrett earned the National League side a 3-0 win over Spennymoor Town of the National League North, and secured for their manager Tommy Widdrington a dream end to a season temporarily derailed when he suffered two strokes in November. Widdrington was back in the dugout in less than two months having acquired, as he put it in the buildup to this game, 'a certain sense of perspective'. This was an excellent, mature performance, whatever way you look at it. 'People will forget about me. That's what happens in football. But they'll never forget how I've made them feel, how my team's made them feel,' Widdrington said. 'Football's a tough old industry. It kicks you up the backside a lot more than it pats you on the back. I'm going to enjoy being patted on the back the next few days.' For Aldershot, who sprung from the ashes of Aldershot FC in 1992, this was an emphatic win but, from the moment they accidentally left two members of their starting XI behind when they set off for Wembley, not a completely carefree one. Spennymoor had beaten three National League sides on their way to Wembley and there were moments when they threatened another upset, notably creating the best chance of the opening half only for Rob Ramshaw to send a miserably meek shot rolling into Marcus Dewhurst's arms from eight yards. 'Nine times out of 10 he'd have put that in the back of the net,' said Graeme Lee, the Moors' manager. 'We've had our moments throughout this cup run, and today we didn't take them.' The game shifted three minutes after the interval when James Henry ran down the right and crossed, and though the ball arrived slightly behind Barham he somehow contorted his leg into a position to get some kind of contact on it. His touch turned out to be perfect, sending it rolling gently but unstoppably into the corner of the net. 'That goal changed everything,' said Lee. 'It deflated us and took the energy out of us a little bit, and we couldn't get back into it.' Aldershot arrived in poor form, having won just one game since Barnham's last-minute goal earned them a 2-1 win over 10-man Woking in the semi-finals. But once in front they played with the cocksure strut of champions, and in the 71st minute Ellison glanced in a header from a corner to make the game all but safe. Three minutes from time Barrett, their player of the season, produced the kind of goal all players dream of scoring in this stadium, a splendid left-footed volley from the edge of the area that dipped over James and into the corner of the net. Both Tyler Frost and Maxwell Mullins missed chances to score a fourth as the Moors flung themselves forward in search of consolation. Earlier Jamie Coyle, centre-half, two-time (Seniors) World Cup-winner, Whitstable player-manager and playing his final competitive game just days before his 42nd birthday, led his team from the back to a 2-1 victory over AFC Whyteleafe in the FA Vase final, decided after extra time when, on a balmy, sun-kissed afternoon at Wembley, Leafe finally wilted. Whyteleafe, another phoenix club, have enjoyed remarkable success since their creation in 2021 and when Daniel Bennett gave them a 17th-minute lead they seemed set for still more. But Whitstable have now lost only two of their last 28 games – and one of those was on penalties – and they fought back to eventually turn over the new Leafe. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Daniel Colmer produced a couple of outstanding saves to keep his side in the game before the Oystermen finally came out of their shell in the second half, and seven minutes into it top-scorer Harvey Smith equalised from 20 yards, running on to Nathan Jeche's precise pass and wrongfooting George Hill, who let the ball whistle just a yard or so to his right. Leafe repeatedly threatened to steal victory but it was Whitstable who eventually claimed it: in the 97th minute Albie O'Mara-Knapp crossed from the right and Ronald Sithole somehow scuffed his shot into a post, but he made up for it three minutes later when he ran on to the same player's long punt forward, reclaimed the ball after Hill saved his initial effort, worked a better angle for a shot and lashed into the roof of the net.
The Sun
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Former Premier League star who was rushed to hospital after having two strokes wins triumphant Wembley final
FORMER Premier League star Tommy Widdrington celebrated triumph at Wembley as his Aldershot Town side beat Spennymoor 3-0 in the FA Trophy final. Widdrington, 53, said there was "not a prouder person in the stadium" after three second-half goals from Jack Barham, Dan Ellison and Josh Barrett saw them secure victory. 4 4 4 4 The ex-Southampton ace recovered from two strokes suffered at the end of last year to stand at the home of football and lift the Cup with the National League outfit, winning their first trophy since 2008. Widdrington told BBC Sport: "There is not a prouder person in this stadium, I'm very appreciative of the support I've had during my health problems and the people of Aldershot have been incredible. "To finish the year I had with this moment is great, this final is the best of the teams outside the top four divisions, it's no mean feat to win this. "I'm made up for the lads and Wembley is about winning, if you don't win it then it has to be the worst feeling in the world, the players have their names in the history books of the club, I'm delighted." Goalscorer Barrett added to the broadcaster that the team would "party hard" and reserved special praise to the manager and the fans. He called on the owners to back Widdrington with some money to make them "a League Two team in no time". The 26-year-old said: "It's crazy, I can't believe these scenes. "We didn't really execute the game plan in the first half but in the second half we dominated, that finish was one I knew was coming, I always try things and that's who I am. "The fans deserve this, give our manager some money and we will be a League Two team in no time, let's hope we can get back up that table next season. "I've loved every minutes of being here, the fans have accepted me and we're going to party tonight, party hard!" Aldershot finished 16th in the National League this season. Meanwhile, Whitstable Town came from behind to beat AFC Whyteleafe 2-1 in the FA Vase earlier on. It was the Southern Counties side's first ever time winning the trophy, with their previous best run in the competition being the fifth round in the 1996-97 season.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Aldershot beat Spennymoor to win FA Trophy
Aldershot Town scored three second-half goals as they beat Spennymoor Town 3-0 to win the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium. Jack Barham opened the scoring early in the second half, bundling the ball home after a cross by James Henry from the right-hand 20 minutes remaining Tommy Widdrington's side doubled their lead, Dan Ellison glancing the ball into the net from a corner Barrett then wrapped up the game with a stunning strike on the volley from outside of the box. Over 18,000 Shots fans made the trip to London, packing out their allocation and making plenty of noise in their first-ever trip to the national stadium. More to follow. The Shots fans that made the trip to Wembley travelled in great numbers, and with over 18,000 tickets sold they packed out their allocated quarter of the the match their supporters were bouncing as the players made their way to the pitch, a sea of red and blue throwing balloons and streamers into the was Aldershot's Wembley debut, they beat Woking 2-1 to progress to the final while Spennymoor beat Rochdale on penalties, going to extra time after a 95th minute having less support, the Spennymoor supporters still made a decent noise as their side started the game, a big group of their fans were packed into a section behind the goal as well as further along the was the shots that had the first real chance of the game, a cross was whipped in from the right and in the direction of forward Jack Barham whose glancing header sailed just wide of the far 20 minutes Spennymoor had a brilliant chance to take the lead, Finley Shrimpton burst down the right-hand side and charged into the box, laying it off to Rob Ramshaw who played a weak attempt on goal right into the grasp of Marcus Shots then went up the other end and Josh Barrett forced a tremendous save out of Brad James as the keeper palmed away a dangerous curling effort. Early in the second half Aldershot found the breakthrough that they were looking for, Barrett produced a beautiful touch to send James Henry on his way, driving down the right-hand then played a cross across the box for Barham waiting at the back post, who helped the ball over the line before standing on the advertising boards in front of him, hands raised to the delighted Shots lead was then doubled with 20 minutes remaining, Barrett sent an in-swinging corner into the box and Ellison was there to nod it into the back of the the final moments Aldershot's Barrett gave himself and the Shots fans a moment to remember with a stunning strike on the the ball bounced he smashed it with his left foot, the effort sailing into the top-right hand corner of the the full time whistle blew the Aldershot players sprinted over to their fans, some twirling their shirts around their heads and others embracing.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Spennymoor Town fans gather ahead of Wembley final
After a huge amount of anticipation, Spennymoor Town FC faces Aldershot Town at Wembley for the FA Trophy beat Rochdale AFC 5-4 on penalties to secure their Claire, who had travelled down to Wembley Way, said she felt "awesome" and even happier to be at the match because of the sunshine."If they lift that trophy it would mean the world to me," she said. Life-long football fan Ian said he was at the venue 12 years ago and was feeling excited. He predicted Glen Taylor would score on the player's 35th birthday."I feel nervous because we are a bit more the underdogs and it depends on the day, we've had good matches and bad ones," he said. "But I think they'll win 2:1 - Taylor to score on his birthday."Another fan, Sean, said a win "would be unreal for the town". Manager Graeme Lee has said his wife's attitude to cancer would inspire him and his team during the club had asked Spennymoor Town Council to help pay for coaches to take fans down to London. It refused but lifelong fan Gary Finley offered to pay transport costs for more than 65 said: "It would be fantastic to see as many Moors fans as possible to see their heroes play, and hopefully win, at Wembley." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
