FA Trophy final: AFC Fylde 1-0 Leyton Orient - Danny Rowe gives Coasters victory
- Published
AFC Fylde denied National League champions Leyton Orient a non-league double as Danny Rowe's free-kick was enough to overcome the O's in the FA Trophy final at Wembley.
Jordan Maguire-Drew and Marvin Ekpiteta both hit the woodwork for Orient in the second half before Rowe lifted the ball over the Orient wall and into Dean Brill's net to put the Coasters ahead on the hour mark.
The east Londoners then struck the post for the third time through Joe Widdowson before Maguire-Drew's goal-bound effort on the follow-up was blocked by team-mate Matt Harrold, who was offside.
Dave Challinor's side return to Lancashire victorious from their second trip to the national stadium in the space of eight days, having lost the National League promotion final to Salford City last Saturday.
Earlier on Non-League Finals Day Chertsey Town came from behind to win the FA Vase as two goals in extra-time gave them a 3-1 victory over Cray Valley (Paper Mills).
Chertsey boss Dave Anderson, the former AFC Wimbledon manager, announced his retirement after the game, with the Northern Irishman bowing out of management by completing a step-five double by adding to the Combined Counties League Premier Division title the Surrey club won last month.
Coasters enjoy Wembley redemption
Fylde lost captain Neill Byrne to a head injury in the opening stages but had the better chances in the first half, with Andy Bond missing a great opportunity when he sent his effort off target from four yards after being picked out by Rowe.
The half-time introduction of Maguire-Drew gave Orient added attacking impetus, and the former Brighton man sent a free-kick onto the right-hand upright before Ekpiteta saw his back-post header from a corner come back off the other post.
Around 23,000 Orient fans were in attendance but were disappointed as the club failed to emulate Colchester United (1991-92) and Wycombe Wanderers (1992-93) by winning promotion to the English Football League and lifting the FA Trophy in the same season.
Justin Edinburgh's men could not find an equaliser as AFC Fylde, who finished fifth in the National League, added the FA Trophy to the FA Vase title they won in 2008, when they were known as Kirkham & Wesham.
Fylde were a 10th-tier club just over a decade ago and victory in north London will provide some respite after missing out on a place in the EFL at the expense of Salford.
Curfews give Anderson triumphant send-off
Beforehand in the FA Vase final, extra-time strikes from Jake Baxter and Quincy Rowe meant Chertsey ran out winners after their match against Cray Valley (PM) ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
A smart near-post finish from Gavin Tomlin put the Millers ahead in the 36th minute but Chertsey equalised three minutes later when Sam Flegg turned home after seeing his header from Lubomir Guentchev's corner come back off the post.
Cray Valley almost won it late on but Nick Jupp brilliantly saved Ashley Sains' header before the Londoners' Anthony Edgar dramatically hit the bar after five minutes of second-half stoppage time.
The critical moment came at the end of the first period of extra-time when referee Ross Joyce ruled Cem Tumkaya's trip on Guentchev on the left-hand edge of the area had happened inside the box, allowing Baxter to tuck his penalty kick into the bottom left-hand corner and celebrate with a cartwheel in front of around 6,000 travelling fans from Surrey.
Rowe capped the win for the Curfews by stepping out of defence and curling in a shot in the 117th minute to give manager Anderson a triumphant send-off.
Guentchev - the son of ex-Bulgaria international and former Ipswich and Luton midfielder Bontcho - was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself, having a first-half free-kick turned over the bar by Cray Valley keeper Andy Walker and seeing the Millers captain tip a shot onto the post in the final minute of extra-time.
Defeat denied Cray Valley - who had 40-year-old former Charlton, Leyton Orient and Jamaica striker Kevin Lisbie in their side - a double of their own, after the Eltham-based club had already clinched the Southern Counties East League Premier Division title.
What the managers said
Leyton Orient manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio London:
"I've got mixed emotions. When you arrive here you are focused solely on one thing - to make sure you to leave as winners.
"It was a slow start but we deserved a bit more for our second half performance. Congratulations to Fylde as they showed the character they did to win it.
"We hit the woodwork a few times and I thought it was not going to be our day when Matt Harrold unfortunately cleared Jordan's effort the line.
"I am proud of the club and my players, who have been incredible all season.
We accomplished the goal to get back into the Football League and this was next to try and complete the double but it hasn't worked out that way."
AFC Fylde boss Dave Challinor:
"To have the feeling of today doesn't in any way make up for last week but it certainly makes the summer a bit easier
"We have deserved to come out of the season with something and the club have made history by winning the Vase and now this unbelievable Trophy.
"We knew Orient would come at us and we probably scored when they were having their best spell.
"We didn't get our luck in any way shape or form last Saturday but today has made up for it. To win any cup you need a bit of luck and losing Neill Byrne early on probably galvanised the lads."
Chertsey Town boss Dave Anderson:
"I'm very emotional, it is an unbelievable thing.
"I've just told my players I've retired so it is a big moment for me - to win at Wembley is every schoolboy's dream and I'm kicking towards 60.
"I worked at AFC Wimbledon where it's a Hollywood movie but the way it has finished here you couldn't write the script. As a manager it is the pinnacle.
"I thought the game was a credit to the level. It was a proper match with gameplans and tactics and we knew we had to find a way, but this team have always done that."
Cray Valley (PM) manager Kevin Watson:
"It's disappointing but it is fine margins, hitting the crossbar with the last kick of the 90 minutes.
"They are a good team and did a job against us but our boys did OK, considering the occasion.
"The objective was to win the game and right now it is tough to take but in time it will settle down slightly and they will realise what they have achieved.
"This feels like a low at the moment but this is a high in these boys' careers and they will bounce back."