Those who know their geography will be aware that Castle Donington is a town in North West Leicestershire. I imagine that the Cobras have chosen to be affiliated to the Derbyshire FA because of how they started out as a club, as a Sunday league team in the Long Eaton (Derbyshire) league. Choosing to be associated with the Derbyshire FA keeps them separated from Castle Donington FC who are firmly associated with the Leicestershire FA and Leicestershire league system.
The Cobras are familiar to Derbyshire FA cup finals. They won the cup for Sunday league teams in the two previous seasons, but this evening's game, at the Don Amott Arena, in Mickleover was Cobras highest profile game to date, against higher quality opposition.
It was a lovely spring evening under the, less than powerful, Mickleover floodlights, and the game was enjoyed by the 156 spectators, albeit the Castle Donington folk enjoyed it a little more. Both sets of supporters were vocal in support of their favourites.
Cobras, resplendent in their slightly gothic purple and black strip, were on the backfoot early on in the game against the young Gresley side, with the reds going close from distance and hitting the woodwork.
Cobras, slightly against the run of play, took the lead mid-way through the first-half however. A good diagonal ball to the right-hand angle of the 18 yard box found the number 15 who drilled a low shot passed the 'keeper's right-hand to the far corner of the goal, the ball going in off the post. From then on in the game was very even with both teams creating more chances.
Cobras second goal came mid-way through the second-half. Some poor defending allowed the ball to get to the number 15 in the box and from 16 yards he, in a position right of centre, unleashed a cracking shot which thundered into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
With two minutes to go Gresley got a goal back. A ball through the middle set a young Gresley player through on goal. The striker reached the ball ahead of the onrushing goalkeeper, got the ball past him, and a colleague tapped in from close range. Unfortunately the onrushing 'keeper took out former and the player was left dazed on the ground. An ambulance was called, the game halted, and the players retired to their dressing rooms. Later I found out that the player was fine after spending an hour or so at the local hospital.
Back in the changing room the goalkeeper received a red card and the game restarted with Cobras clinging on to their lead with 10 men. With some comedy timewasting from the replacement 'keeper, Cobras saw out the game to lift the biggest trophy in their short history.
It was a fair result and an entertaining game that was sadly marred by the unfortunate late incident.
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