SASL Roving Reporter Ken Brown reports on the CSSA Over-30 State Cup Final
at Yale University, 21-Oct-1999. Edited by Garry Archer.
Waterford SC 4, Waterbury Morse Watchman 2, after extra time, 1-1 at full-time.
An excellent match was played sportingly with a minimum of complaining to
the officials, both teams deserving full credit.
This was Morse's third CSSA Over-30 State Cup Final. They had won their
previous two in 1996 and 1997. The Cup was inaugurated in 1992.
For Waterford, this was their first CSSA Over-30 State Cup Final after
entering the SASL in 1996. They currently lead the SASL First Division and
hoped to emulate other Double-Winning teams, like Morse, of the past.
Morse, playing without the injured Carlos brothers Danny and Fred,
dominated most of the first half, but could not convert their pressure
into goals and the half ended 0-0.
The second half saw Waterford come out more determined and the play was
much more even with both teams missing scoring chances.
As the match entered the final 25 minutes of regulation time Waterford
began to exert more pressure. They created several chances to score, but
the Morse goalkeeper was playing brilliantly, saving goals after a series of
one-on-one chances.
The older Morse team began to tire after relentless pressure from Waterford
but it was they who managed to score first.
Waterford continued to pound away at Morse and were rewarded with an
equiliser to make it 1-1. Both teams hung on with extra-time looming and
the score would not change further.
Morse had two more players injured during regulation time, but soldiered
bravely on in extra-time against a fit and determined Waterford side seeking
a Cup and League double this season. Morse were also forced to play
extra-time against Cheshire Azzurri in the Semi-Finals, a match they finally
resolved with penalty kicks. No doubt, several of Morse's older players
were not relishing the prospect of keeping pace with Waterford's younger
team having already played 90 minutes with them.
The injuries and older legs began to show as Morse began to look
progressively more tired. Waterford used this to their advantage and scored
three more goals to lead the game 4-1, effectively taking the issue beyond
Morse's reach. Morse were able to score a consolation goal, however, five
minutes from the final whistle.
Final score, 4-2.