Annies’ cup win a ‘hoot’
Thursday, 6th March 2014
Players from Athletico Annies, inset manager Alan Covington and coach Ted Barham
Published: 6 March 2014
by STEVE BARNETT
THERE was a big Hoot ‘n’ Annie at Hackney Marshes at the weekend as one of the top teams in the Camden Sunday League finally captured the cup.
Players from Athletico Annies, who are sponsored by the Hoot ‘n’ Annie Bar in Kentish Town, brought an end to their runners-up run as they beat Surreal Madrid 5-1 to win the Senior Cup.
It took Annies just 16 seconds to find the back of the net when striker Steve Killingback scored the quickest goal in the competition’s history.
Man-of-the-match and captain Jack Shepherd quickly doubled Annies’ advantage before Killingback grabbed the goal of the game as he controlled a 30-yard pass from Kurt Freeney and smashed the ball home.
Freeney ended the game as a contest with a great strike from the edge of the box as Annies ended 45 minutes of top quality football boasting a 4-0 lead.
To their credit Madrid refused to give up and pulled a goal back early in the second half when Omer Ozdemir curled a beautiful free-kick into the top corner.
Any chances of a heroic comeback were short lived, however, as Shepherd rounded the keeper to score his second of the game.
Having seen Athletico Annies lose their previous three finals manager Alan Covington, who is pictured (inset above) with joint coach Ted Barham, was delighted to finally be on the winning side.
“It has been a long time coming,” he said. “Hopefully now we can go on and do the double by winning the Challenge Cup too. We would like to say a massive thanks to Maria Connolly from Hoot ‘n’ Annies bar for her continued support throughout the season, and also Scott Mills and Rita Day.
“Without their efforts this cup win wouldn’t have been possible.”
