FC Brentford 2-1 Heathrow Club Reserves
It was third time lucky for FC Brentford as in their third season and third cup final, they were able to savour the sweet taste of champagne with some silverware after beating Heathrow Club Reserves in the Vice President's Cup.
The side were beaten in the final last season and suffered heartache against AFC Bedfont in the Division Three Cup earlier this year but were able to add a trophy to a hard-earned promotion.
In an even contest, Chris Johnson gave FC Brentford the perfect start after nine minutes when he raced through onto a long ball forward to slide the ball home.
Dyann Lewis-Mitchell made it 2-0 with 10 minutes of the first half remaining with a powerful strike into the roof of the net.
Skipper Jak Linsell, who had already been booked for his reaction to a heavy challenge, was given a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity, even though it appeared the striker was going away from goal.
Adam Warwick pulled a goal back with 12 minutes remaining with a perfectly struck free-kick to set up a nervy finish and leave Linsell in despair, before it turned to ecstasy as the final whistle was blown.
The skipper said: “At the end there was only one emotion and that was pure delight.
“Obviously from the 15, 20 minutes after being sent off I had to go for a walk. I thought it was quite harsh after realising it was a straight sending off.
“I was absolutely fuming coming off and transitioned from player to fan and I was yelling, screaming and everything.
“The chairman let me on at the end to get the trophy but I was boiling over until the final whistle and all that crumbled to pure delight. I'm so proud of the boys.
“We've been saying 'third time lucky' since we lost to Bedfont. Every game is different but we knew that.
“We were the underdogs there. We were really frustrated last season after losing to Adam & Eve.”
The club has been going since 2012 and, after some early troubles, are looking to build on what they have after their second successive promotion.
Linsell added: “After getting our second consecutive promotion, along with Bedfont we fancy our chances next year.
“I think we need a couple of extra players but we've got such a strong bond we've got to make sure we bring players in who can add to the team and on the social side of things.
“I've played for teams who are a bunch of hooligans and you don't enjoy it but I've been playing with these guys for up to 10 years.
“If we keep the core group together, then next season we'll see what happens. We've beaten a couple of teams in the division above in friendlies and the cup.”
