THE MIDDLESEX MENTAL HEALTH COUNTY CUPS PROVIDE A SPLENDID AFTERNOON’S FOOTBALL
The Middlesex Mental Health County Cups were played at their usual venue of Brunel University Sports Park, on the afternoon of Friday, 14th June.
This annual event provides a fitting conclusion to the season for the players, who had competed in the League at this venue throughout the season. It was impeccably organised by Dan Perkins, the County’s Inclusion Development Officer. Dan was well supported by his three regular referees, Errol Barnett, Chris Conroy and Tony Milton, who kept the proceedings ticking over with the appropriate lightness of touch and a minimum of fuss.
We were very fortunate with the weather. Despite a pessimistic weather forecast and the occasional presence of some threatening clouds, the expected thunderstorms did not materialise.
The matches were played 7-a-side, with rolling substitutes used. The standard of play was impressive with most of the matches closely contested.
Two separate cups were competed for. Apart from the Adult Mixed Competition, there was the Adult Women’s cup, which was introduced last season. All 3 of the venue’s 3G pitches were utilised simultaneously.
ADULT WOMEN’S COMPETITION
This competition was played on pitch 1 and was refereed throughout by Tony Milton. Three teams were entered and the matches were initially played on a group basis, followed by a final, contested by the top two teams in the group. The duration of the matches was 16 minutes, in two halves each of 8 minutes.
The group results were:
| In Tune FC Women's | 2 | Minds United WFC | 8 |
| Minds United WFC | 3 | Kensington + Chelsea FC Women’s | 1 |
| In Tune FC Women's | 2 | Kensington + Chelsea FC Women’s | 4 |
The result of the final was:
| Minds United WFC | 2 | Kensington + Chelsea FC Women’s | 0 |
The scoreline would have been greater but for an outstanding performance by the Kensington + Chelsea goalkeeper.
ADULT MIXED COMPETITION
5 teams contested this competition which was also initially played on a group basis, with each team playing all of the others once. It was played on pitches 2 and 3 under the jurisdiction of referees Errol Barnett and Chris Conroy respectively.
The top 2 teams contested the final and the 3rd and 4th played off for third place. The matches were of 10 minutes duration, played straight through.
Competition for places in the final were fierce, especially for second position, which was settled on goals scored.
The results of the group matches were:
| Riverside Rangers | 1 | West London/INUF Wanderers | 1 |
| North London FSFC | 2 | Minds United London Borough | 0 |
| West London/INUF Wanderers | 0 | Kensington & Chelsea Men’s | 1 |
| Riverside Rangers | 4 | Minds United London Borough | 0 |
| North London FSFC | 0 | Kensington & Chelsea Men’s | 2 |
| Minds United London Borough | 0 | West London/INUF Wanderers | 3 |
| Riverside Rangers | 1 | North London FSFC | 2 |
| Minds United London Borough | 0 | Kensington & Chelsea Men’s | 5 |
| North London FSFC | 1 | West London/INUF Wanderers | 3 |
| Riverside Rangers | 2 | Kensington & Chelsea Men’s | 1 |
As a result Kensington & Chelsea Men’s topped the group table with 9 points, despite losing their final match to Riverside Rangers.
Riverside Rangers, who were making their first appearance in the tournament, finished equal on 7 points with West London/INUF Wanderers. The 2 teams also finished with the same goal difference of + 4 but Rangers went through to the final by just one goal. They netted 8 times against West London’s 7. North London finished in 4th place with 6 points.
An exciting 3rd/4th place play-off, which was won 2-1 by West London, didn’t change the group positions.
The final was even more hard fought and looked as if it was going to a penalty shoot-out until a last gasp goal gave Kensington & Chelsea the cup.
The results of the knockout rounds were:
3rd/4th Playoff West London/INUF Wanderers 2 North London FSFC 1
Final: Kensington & Chelsea Men’s 1 Riverside Rangers 0
Dan Perkins presented the referees with mementoes and then the trophies and individual mementoes to the Cup winners and runners up, in the closing ceremony. He also presented the awards for the league competitions. The full list was:
Adult Mixed Cup
Winners: Kensington & Chelsea Men’s
Runners Up: Riverside Rangers
Adult Women’s Cup
Winners: Minds United WFC
Runners Up: Kensington + Chelsea FC Women’s
Adult Mixed League
Winners: Kensington & Chelsea Men’s
Runners Up: West London/INUF Wanderers
Adult Women’s League
Winners: Minds United WFC
Runners Up: Kensington + Chelsea FC Women’s
3rd Place: In Tune FC Women’s
So ended a very enjoyable afternoon’s football. The event had a really positive “feel good” feeling throughout. The camaraderie between everyone involved, players, helpers, supporters and referees, was very noticeable. Dan Perkins must be very pleased with the results of his considerable efforts and the pleasure that they provide.
Report: Jim Taylor
Photography: Chris Benn