THE SOMERSET LEAGUE CUP FINAL 2003 - Nailsea United vs Portishead
at the Hand Stadium, Clevedon (near Nailsea) 13th May 2003.

The Nailsea squad arrived at the Grove car park in an upbeat mood, having secured the first league title in their 106-year history just days earlier. The players boarded the bus and quietly contemplated the game ahead as they headed towards the Hand Stadium in the west of Greater Nailsea. The coach pulled into the car park, and Nailsea's war lords could see Portishead had already arrived, obviously eager to put an end to their neighbours' domination this season.

The Nailsea lads honoured the home changing rooms with their presence on this occasion, and it was out to the pitch for a quick inspection. Some rain only hours before kick-off on what is usually a dry pitch had caused the players to contemplate studs instead of their moulders, and each player made their own decision.

The team was announced in the changing rooms, and it was confirmed that resilient defender Wilson had failed the fitness test - a hamstring injury was to keep him out of this crucial encounter. Warm up was completed in the new cup final t-shirts, and it was into the changing rooms for some last minute preperations, mainly involving the matchday regulars Vicks, vaseline, baby oil and smelling salts. Despite the tension there's still time for the old gag "Who's got the tape?", "There's one in my car".

The Referee rang the bell, and to some final words from the management team of Hucker, Winters & Price, returning captain "Big" Al Powell led Nailsea into the tunnel, where they stood side by side with the Portishead regime, and there was an air of anticipation floating about. The teams ran out in front of a large crowd of 450 faithful spectators, with the Nailsea firm representing a huge majority. Portishead's small band of followers were shunted to the far corner of the stadium, as the matchday stewards did their best to protect them.

For Nailsea's double chasers the time was now.

Minute-by-minute guide to the match:

5min : Some fine work down the right flank sees Neil Watts and John Mark interact, and young United striker James Lee drags his shot inches wide of the left post.

7min : Mark Mapstone looks energetic behind the Portishead front two of Clarke and Gregory, and sees his effort from distance go narrowly wide.

10min : Neil Ridge of Nailsea is booked for not retreating 10 yards, having conceded the game's first freekick. .

20min : Both teams are keeping the ball well in patches, and a Portishead cross from their right has Clarke blaze over from 6 yards. It was becoming clear that the game was not being played in the friendliest spirit, as deafening jeers greated Clarke's wayward attempt.

25min : The referee also seems to be struggling with the occasion, and is having a beast. Nailsea sweeper Chris Adamson is taken off injured having twisted his ankle, and is replaced by midfielder John Spittle, with Roberts moving to sweeper, and midfield general Moorcroft pushed back into the defence

30min : Ridge receives his second booking for a two footed tackle from behind, in what looked to be a fair challenge, and is sent off. To win the double Nailsea will now not only have to grab a winner, but also to play for at least an hour with 10 men. The Nailsea crowd are incensed by the decision, and several have to be restrained from trying to get on the pitch to make their feelings known to the ref..

40min : The lively Nailsea forward pairing of Mark and Lee have two penalty appeals turned down in quick succession. The Referee really has turned on United, so it seems Nailsea are playing with 10 men against 12..

43min : After a good spell of Nailsea possession eagle-eyed Matt Long puts Ben Cooke free down the left touchline, and his cross is met by James Lee who narrowly misses the target.

HALF TIME : Nailsea United 0 Portishead 0 (Referee still having a beast)

Encouraging words from Winters at half-time gives the Nailsea players hope, and then it is time for Hucker to wind them up to come out in the second half with all guns blazing.

55min : By now Nailsea are the more dominant force, with midfielder Spittle refusing to allow Portishead to benefit from their man advantage. A pinpoint cross from Spittle sees Lee dolly a gilt-edged chance straight at the keeper, that really should have been one nil.

57min : Lee Cogan comes on for the impressive Johnny Mark, as Nailsea refresh their strikeforce.

60min : Nailsea centrebacks Moorcroft and Powell, aided by sweeper Roberts, are doing everything to keep the eleven men of Portishead at bay with some bone-crunching tackling, but on the hour they fail to stay on their feet, and Portishead's top marksman Clarke fires home from 12yards. Nailsea United 0 Portishead 1

65min : In-form Nailsea goalkeeper Cremer claims a cross and is caught very late by veteran Portishead captain Cleve Holder. Cremer hits the floor under the force of the reckless tackle, and the Nailsea players ensure that Holder follows him down promptly. Portishead players rush over to protect their defenceless skipper who appears to be taking a kicking, and tempers fray all around the ground. Nailsea centre-backs Powell, Roberts and Moorcroft lead the way in keeping the Portishead players at arms length, whilst keeper Cremer recieves treatment. When the referee eventually restores order he shows the red card to Holder. To the shock of the crowd young Nailsea wing-back Ben Cooke is also sent off for his role in the brawl, leaving Portishead with 10 men, but still a man advantage.

67min : Having done the job of two men for almost 40 minutes, Matt Long gives way to the final Nailsea substitute, midfielder Nick Shipway.

70-89min : Lynch and Pike now lead the Posset frontline, but are starved of service as Nailsea refuse to give up. More chances come and go for the League Champions as they throw everything into attack. Powell and Roberts are left to man the Nailsea defence along with the ever-impressive Cremer saving and distributing excellently when called upon.

90min : Portishead have their backs against the wall whilst Nailsea still look to press forward while keeping the ball, and clever midfield work through Shipway, Moorcroft and Spittle results in Neil Watts getting behind the Posset defence on the right, and his low cross is met by a surging Lee Cogan foot to send the ball in to the net and of the Nailsea firm into ecstasy. Nailsea United 1 Portishead 1

FULL TIME : Nailsea United 1 Portishead 1

As Hucker, Winters and Price try to revive their exhausted men, the celebrations continue amongst the Nailsea faithful. "You're just a suburb of Nailsea" fills the air for a couple of minutes, before the chanting turns to pointing out Portishead's closeness to Wales, and the subsequent relations with sheep.

EXTRA TIME :

90-120min : Both teams look anxious but Nailsea believe the best way to defend with nine men is to go on the attack, and they continue to play the better football. The hard fitness training at Ashton Gate is clearly evident as the United players are showing far more energy at this late stage. However, chances are few and far between for both teams and neither can find a winner, so the game must go to penalties.

AFTER EXTRA TIME : Nailsea United 1 Portishead 1

PENALTIES :

Posset - puts it over the bar
NUFC - Cogan scores (1-0)
Posset - score
NUFC - Moorcroft effort is saved (1-1)
Posset - score
NUFC - Roberts clips the post and wide (1-2)
Posset - hits the bar
NUFC - Powell scores (2-2)
Posset - score
NUFC - Watts scores (3-3)
Posset - score
NUFC - Shipway scores (4-4)
Posset - score
NUFC - Lee scores (5-5)
Posset - Cremer saves
NUFC - Spittle scores (6-5)

NAILSEA UNITED WIN 6 - 5 ON PENALTIES!!!

As his effort ripples against the back of the net, Spittle runs to his Dad in the far corner of the stadium, and the Nailsea contingent sprint on their tired legs to join him and celebrate Cameroon-stylie !!

It was history in the making, this squad had won Nailsea's first ever Somerset Premier League Title, and as if that wasn't enough, they now had the League Cup for the second time in the club's history, to make it the League and Cup double. No-one was going to burst this Double Bubble, that was for sure.

Nailsea lined up, collected their trophies, and Alan Powell lifted the Cup to the roar of the Nailsea faithful. By this time the few Portishead fans had long gone, but that didn't prevent the Nailsea firm from belting out one last rendition of "Are you watching Bobby Gould?" into the night sky.

That was it, job done. Nailsea had walked with Kings (in this case more like court jesters), but remembered to keep the common touch.

The team was: Mark Cremer; Chris Adamson, Stuart Roberts Alan Powell (c); Neil Watts, Ben Cooke, Ian Moorcroft, Matt Long, Neil Ridge; John Mark, James Lee. Subs: Nick Shipway, Lee Cogan, John Spittle

Manager: Derek Hucker, Assistant Manager: Steve Winters, Physio: Steve Price

Squad Members: Rob Wilson, Matt Vickers.