Cobden Athletic

Published: 13 March 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

A TITANIC battle of champions will take place this weekend when Cobden Athletic take on Coalition Crusaders in the final of the Camden Sunday League Challenge Cup at Hackney Marshes, writes Steve Barnett.

Cobden, who are on the brink of winning their third successive division one title, booked their place in Sunday’s showpiece by beating rivals Athletico Annies in extra time.

Steven Bruce fired Cobden (pictured) ahead when he raced on to Daniel Loughney’s through-ball and deftly lobbed the on-rushing keeper.

But Annies, who went into the game in confident mood having just won the Senior Cup, showed tremendous spirit as they battled back to take a 2-1 lead.

Man-of-the-match Kaleb King came off the bench to save the game for Cobden when he smashed a half volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the box to force extra time.

A red card saw Annies reduced to 10-men and Cobden were quick to take advantage with King and Bruce both finding the back of the net again  to finally kill off the game. Annies were then reduced to nine men before Winston Fowler wrapped up a 5-2 victory to set up a mouth-watering final against the Crusaders, who have already been crowned division two champions.

Cobden manager Dave “Magic Man” Willis said after the game: “It’s going to be a good test playing Coalition in the final as they’ve just clinched the title. I can see them being rivals next season. With a possible treble up for grabs, we’ll be holding nothing back.”