Braintree 1 - Leyton Pennant 2.

(Eastern Floodlight Cup Final).

Leyton Pennant collected their first senior trophy since their formation three years ago, but they did it the hard way on Tuesday night.

High-flying Braintree had only lost two league games in Ryman Division Two all season and they had scored 117 goals in the process.

It was Pennant who threatened first when Che Stadhart was put clean through only to see his shot well saved and they enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first half without capitalising on their chances.

Braintree werent so wasteful and they took the lead on 20 minutes against the run of play.

A corner was only half cleared and when the ball was returned into a packed penalty area it sailed over keeper Ian Brooks into the net to give Braintree the lead which they held until half time.

From the restart Pennant looked more purposeful and they claimed their equaliser almost immediately.

It was a bizarre goal, with a left wing cross from Jason Gerraghty looking to be bouncing harmlessly through to the keeper.

Suddenly the ball hit a divot and shot along the ground the keeper inexplicably took his eye off the ball and allowed it to go between his legs and trickle over the line.

Braintree responded with a period of intense pressure, with Brooks forced into action to deny them with some great saves.

With twelve minutes left the winner arrived for Pennant. Cove was brought down just outside the box and Gerraghty stepped up to curl the ball home into the top corner.

Stadhart could have sealed the win seconds later, but the visitors were left to cling on for the last few minutes before jubilantly collecting their first piece of silverware.

Pennant rounded off their Ryman League campaign on Saturday, going down 2-1 at home to Staines Town.

Billy Read had given them the lead after five minutes but they couldnt hang on.

Pennant finished a turbulent season in a satisfactory tenth place, with a trophy in the bag as well as a collection of individual awards.

Barkingside suffered a 3-1 defeat at Ruislip Manor their first ever loss to the West London outfit since the Spartan League began.

Ruislip took control of the game from the start and Mark Moralee was kept busy in goal.

It came as no surprise when the home team took the lead in the 15th minute through Steve Hale, the leagues leading goalscorer.

Six minutes later Ruislip went further ahead and Robert Coldwaters header made it 3-0.

Gary Edwards Snr came on at half-time and pulled one back late on.

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