Published: 22 March, 2012
by STEVE BARNETT

OLD rivals Reddot and Phoenix produced a cup classic on Sunday as Hackney Marshes was treated to a six-goal thriller cram-packed with talking points.

The extraordinary match saw Reddot captain Micky Dowsett almost miss the game after his son was rushed to hospital just hours before kick-off.

On top of that early drama, defender Bradley Osbourne overcame a concussive blow to the face to score a vital goal as the Dots came from 2-0 down to win 4-2 and lift the Camden Sunday League Senior Cup.

As fans arrived for the match there was a sombre atmosphere as it was revealed Reddot mascot Sonny Dowsett, 10, had been taken to hospital after collapsing while he was getting ready for the big game.

Micky arrived just two minutes before kick-off, and it wasn’t long before he found himself staring at an ambulance again.

Defensive partner Bradley was left dazed and looking out for the count after being smashed in the side of the face as he challenged for a header.

With Reddot preparing to make a substitution, Bradley turned to the paramedic and said: “I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve got to get back on the pitch. This is a cup final.”

As the brave centre-half returned to the action he found his side a goal down. In-form striker Lewis Laws controlled the ball on his chest and rifled his shot past the keeper to give cup-holders Phoenix the lead.

Bradley would have returned to find Phoenix 2-0 up – had it not been for a magnificent save from Kirk Cooke.

The goalkeeper showed tre­mendous reflexes to tip Andrew Hannon’s goal-bound header onto the crossbar.

The game looked all but over on the hour mark when Laws struck again with a neat finish to put Phoenix on the brink of winning their third successive Senior Cup.

But Reddot lived up to their club motto of “Till The Death” as they staged an almighty comeback with a script that even Hollywood wouldn’t have dared make up.

It was Bradley who sparked the fight-back with a commanding back-post header.

Minutes later the game was all square as Steven Bruce scored the goal of the game.

Winger Tony Dowsett raced down the left and put in a good cross for Bruce, who back-heeled the ball over the defender and smashed home the equaliser.

And striker Bruce etched his name into Reddot folklore when he scored again to make it 3-2 to complete the ultimate lost cause raid. And even then, the drama wasn’t over.

In the final minutes of the game, Phoenix pressed for an equaliser and were only denied by a brilliant double save from Cooke.

First the Dots’ keeper denied Jamie Killingback, and then, as the ball fell nicely for Anthony Clarke, the sprightly shot-stopper reacted well again to make another match-winning save.

Reddot wrapped up the win in the final seconds when energetic right-back Rokib Ali raced the length of the field before crossing for substitute Kito Soki to slot home.

Delighted skipper Micky was beaming with pride after putting in a man-of-the-match display. “It was vintage Reddot,” he said.

“We never give up, and to win the cup on such an emotional day was amazing. Manager Adam Nicolaou deserves a lot of credit for how he’s handled the team and kept the club running.

“We wish Phoenix the very best of luck in the London Cup final. They’ll be flying the flag for the Camden Sunday League.”

Phoenix manager Dave Harber was very concise about how he saw the final. “The best team on the day won. We got what we deserved, which was nothing.”

Win it for me, dad

It was every dad’s worst nightmare and Micky Dowsett was no exception when Sonny collapsed.

“I don’t know what happened. One minute he was standing there, the next his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he fell to the floor,” recalls Micky.

“It was so scary, especially as I still had images of Fabrice Muamba collapsing against Tottenham in my head.

“I had no intention of going to the game, but as Sonny was being checked by the paramedics he turned to me and said ‘dad I want you to go and win the cup for me’.

Sonny is now back home and we’re keeping a close eye on him.  

“The doctors are still not sure what happened and will be running more tests. But he had a big smile on his face when he found out I’d won him the cup.”