Round-up of non-league football

ESSEX SENIOR CUP FINAL

Chelmsford 0 Southend United 1

SOUTHEND United won the 2008 Essex Senior Cup but Chelmsford City pushed them all the way for their slender single goal victory last night.

Nearly 3,000 were in attendance at Roots Hall with a huge City contingent present, although it was the home side who stole the initiative.

On 27 minutes City goalkeeper Danny Gay made a brilliant double-save from a corner but he couldn't prevent Zoltan Liptak picking up the pieces from close-range.

City had enjoyed the better of the first half opportunities although Mario Noto and Ricky Holmes were unable to make the most of their chances.

After the interval Jeff King's team were certainly the better side although the experience of Southend's strong team ultimately proved enough for them to be narrow victors.

ISTHMIAN LEAGUE CUP FINAL

Ramsgate 0 AFC Sudbury 0

(after extra time, Ramsgate won 5-4 on penalties)

AFC Sudbury suffered penalty heartache of losing a shootout in the Ryman League Cup final at Dartford last night.

Despite the absence of four key players AFC Sudbury matched their Premier Division opponents throughout.

Smith swept Boardley's free kick narrowly over and then Heath went close with a shot that went over the bar.

Warron Schulz sent a fierce shot over the angle of bar and post and as play continued to switch from end to end Heath's angled volley was just turned round by Wilkerson. Munson then pulled off a point-blank save to keep out a shot from Davis before AFC Sudbury lost defender Driver at half time.

A superb angled shot by Bethell was blocked by Wilkerson but Heath, following up, headed the rebound wide.

Munson again did well to save a low shot from Vahid and then the bar came to the rescue of both teams. First David Head struck the bar from Boardley's long throw-in and then a vicious volley from Minshull crashed back off the AFC bar.

In extra time Ramsgate's Warren Schulz scuffed his shot wide from six yards out and then David Head headed straight into Wilkerson's hands from Tracey's flick-on. Hammond looked to have beaten Wilkerson only for the ball to strike the keeper's legs.

The deadlock was not broken so the game went to penalties and successful kicks were matched until Wardley missed the last of the AFC Sudbury's scheduled five. Vahid stepped up to score Ramsgate's fifth penalty to give them the trophy.

RYMAN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE NORTH

Witham Town 1 Canvey Island 5

WITHAM had two early chances but McDonald shot wide when through on goal and then Wiseman, the visiting keeper, made a great save from Edwards.

Witham found themselves 3-1 down at half time with two goals for Curran and one for Roberts while Witham's goal came from the penalty spot, scored by Edwards.

After the break the visitors had the better chances with Curran completing his hat-trick and then Rugg heading in for the final goal.

RIDGEONS LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

Cambridge City 1 Needham Market 3

NEEDHAM bounced back from five straight defeats against an in-form and youthful Cambridge side.

Needham's Heath Preston scored on 20 minutes only to be pegged back by an equaliser from Cambridge's Marriott. Needham's Jonathan Thorogood put Needham ahead and this was followed by a third from his brother Joby Thorogood.

There was no further scoring in an entertaining second half but Needham will be well pleased with this result.

King's Lynn Reserves 0 Woodbridge Town 0

WOODBRIDGE picked up a useful away point in a goalless draw at The Walks last night.

Both sides had chances to win the game, which kicked off 15 minutes late due to three Woodbridge players late arrival following an accident on the Orwell Bridge, but neither could find the break through.

Woodbridge looked the most lively in the opening period with Lee O'Neill and Allicion Blake both going close.

Kings Lynn carried more goal threat in the second half twice being denied by visiting keeper Marcus Garnham, while O'Neill and Ben Garnham both saw efforts go over the bar at the other end.

RIDGEONS LEAGUE DIVISION ONE

Tiptree 2 Hadleigh 2

THIS encounter between the first and third teams was played at break-neck speed.

Tiptree opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Luke Callender beat the offside trap from a free kick to fire home. Hadleigh equalised in stoppage time, when Chris Dennett fired in from a free kick.

Tiptree went back in front on 53 minutes when top scorer Tommy English shot from long-range, the ball bobbling past the keeper.

With 10 minutes remaining Hadleigh were rewarded with a second equaliser when Benstead was caught napping with an unlucky bounce when Chris Dennett fired home his second of the match.

Diss Town 2 Gorleston 3

GORLESTON secured three vital points in their quest for promotion to the Premier Division in a game where all the meaningful action occurred in the opening 45 minutes.

Diss took the lead in the fifth minute when the persistence of Gavin Norman saw him square the ball to Luke Catchpole, who side-footed home from eight yards. Six minutes later the Greens were on level terms as Peter Lambert raced onto a long ball from Luke Goreham before lobbing the advancing keeper.

Gary Todd then blazed a great chance over the ball for the visitors before he made amends on 25 minutes, outpacing the square Diss defence to fire an effort into the bottom corner.

Catchpole equalised on 36 minutes with his second goal of the evening, driving home a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. Todd grabbed what proved to be the winner three minutes from the break with a brilliant chip over keeper Hilton from 35 yards out.

REPRESENTATIVE MATCH

Metaltec SIL 3 Kent Blaxill Border League 3

THE Border League forced a breakthrough on six minutes when a right wing corner saw Dean Dale forcefully head into the net.

On 30 minutes Trevor Lewis converted a penalty to make it 2-0.

SIL were back in the game on 37 minutes when Liam Bevis sent over a huge free kick which was missed by the despairing attempt of keeper Morrison. The home side pressed and Darren Harper finished off a slick move just before half-time.

The SIL side took a 57th-minute lead when Pickett made ground down the left to set up Harper's second.

After many changes, the Border League levelled matters on 71 minutes when Matt Greenly applied a header with just enough pace to beat keeper Dixon.