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	Beacon Hill Rover Thirds Reach League Cup Final
	by Robert Smith
	Beacon Hill Thirds have reached the League Cup Final after Tillingham Hotspur 2-1. Hill will meet Great Baddow in the final at Maldon Town. The date of the final yet to be confirmed. Congratulation to the team. Please see Match Report (written by Dave Park) below: After two hard-fought encounters in previous rounds that had earned them their semi-final place, Beacon Hill Rovers 'A' found themselves mixing it with the league high-flyers Great Baddow Reserves, White Hart United and Tillingham Hotspur Reserves in the semi-final draw of the Mid-Essex Division 5 cup. The 'A's found themselves met by the team who, in November's league fixture, had put nine past them for no return. It was evident from the off that Rovers had learned their lessons from the previous encounter. They stifled Tillingham's main attacking threats by allowing very little through the middle, pressing across the park and then breaking quickly through Christos Ryan, Steve Shelley and Tom Stimson. A sharp stop by Rovers' keeper, from a shot emanating from a break down Tillingham's right, portended the opening goal. Tilligham overloaded their left and Chris Yabsley, who marshalled this threat tirelessly throughout, was left stranded - the resulting low cross skimmed from the shin of captain Rob Hill as he attempted to cover, leaving his keeper stranded to put Tillingham in the lead, but the underdogs' heads did not go down. Instead, a fortitude appeared that seemed to galvanise the Mid-Essex newcomers. Some late tackles were ridden, notably those on youngsters Alex Mickelesen and Stimson. Despite this Rovers maintained their composure. With centre backs Hill and Sean Downing dominating, and the midfield triumvirate of David Park, Rob Smith and Chris Osbourne standing firm. Shelley & Stimson combined neatly to hoodwink a bemused Tillingham back line, allowing striker Shelley to equalise after thirty minutes with the deftest of headers into the bottom corner. The home side went in at half-time confident they could take the match. The second half began much as the first had ended, with neither team able to break the other down. Then a swift break down Beacon Hill's right, following some stern battling in the midfield, saw substitute Lee Osbourne centre for Shelley to score his ninth goal of the season with twenty minutes remaining. Celebrations were far from conservative after this strike, with all thoughts of catching Shelley's chicken pox forgotten. With an average age of 23ish, Rovers' young side then showed experience beyond their years as they remained disciplined, compact and resolute. Confusion had its moment however when one passage of play ended up seeing the ball squirm through a pile of players in the Beacon Hill box, ricochet from the post and fall invitingly into the grateful arms of keeper Steve Turner. Rovers' keeper distinguished himself again soon later with an agile tip over from a dipping free kick. Beacon Hill withstood some late pressure, but inspired by some fully commited challenges, from Smith in particular, and helped by substitutions made from a strong bench, Rovers ensured that Tillingham were increasingly kept to long range efforts as the game wore on. This was a team victory in every sense, everyone stepped up and contributed superbly to a memorable and some would even say remarkable victory. Beacon Hill go into the final at Park Drive fully deserving of their place and buoyed by an inspirational performance. When asked after the match if he thought this result possible before the game, Rovers' boss Rob Smith said "I really believed so, when we play to our strengths, which we did today, we can compete with any team in the division."

	15/2/2009
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