The first leg of the Europa Cup Final was played at Sildegapet Cottage in front of a full capacity crowd that turned out to watch the Whites take on Cup favourites Rieck United. In a pre-match interview, Britton was asked about his teams run of form and about the injury about Axel Verboven. Britton told the press that I am amazed by our season so far, we have played above ourselves and really attacked teams that should have beaten us. The injury to Axel is not serious and is scheduled to be available to play against Thunder Sharks FC but he will miss the 5th round of the Svenska Cupen against Team Monty for certain as well as one league game. On the Svenska Cupen front, we are not expecting a miracle and the boys have already done fantastically well to get this far but we will try to win. In the Newcomers Challenge, we are really hoping we can get into Round 7. Aber RFC are obviously a tricky side to beat and will push their hardest as well but the team is confident of pulling off a win. If we won this would be the furthest any Cottage team will have got in the cup but we believe we can do it. In the Coca Cola Cup, we are not expecting to go far in it either, we will probably be knocked out in the group stages but we will obviously try and progress but it is unlikely considering that we will have to play against MK Coolers and Razey Rovers. They are very tough opponents and will be the favourites. In the League, even though we have drawn four times, I am confident we can emerge as league winners. We beat them and showed their weaknesses as a team, so hopefully they will be beaten by other teams. Of course today we are not in any of those cups, but on the Final we have ahead of us. We will try and push them as hard as we can. We have to be ruthless to day and take away as many goals as we can as United are practically unbeatable at home and will also try their hardest. They, in my view, start as favourites, but we will attempt to take a lead of some kind into next weeks second round.

Lenci Lajtos was the first to try his luck after side stepping Matthew Greenway and launching his shot from distance. Eytan Halevy had no chance of reaching the curling shot and was unable of preventing it flying into the back of the net after just 13 minutes. Lajtos’ goal immediately sparked wild celebrations among the home supporters and also began to waken up many of the Sildegapet players. Nehemiah Macdaniel then had his chance to level up the scores 5 minutes later as Milan Rak was found sleeping, but Berti managed to cover his ground very quickly to prevent any pressure being placed upon Pierce Coles shoulders. However, his poor pass allowed Omeed Khaleky to have United’s second shot on goal within seconds, but Pierce Cole dived to his left and glanced the shot onto the post. From then on, Sildegapet had the majority of the possession but could not find their way past a very strong Rieck United defence until the 40th minute when Annibale Bramati managed to break the offside trap and Laijtos found his through ball going straight to Bramati’s feet. Bramati, having had no good chance before the 40th minute, decided to take his chance when he could to slot past the onrushing Eytan Halevy to double Sildegapet’s lead. After the break, it took just four minutes for the whites to score again, with Lenci Laijtos being the hero of the moment for his superb goal that is already being hailed as the goal of the tournament. Laijtos, finding himself on the half way line managed to dribble mid way into United’s half before letting rip with a superb goal. Nehemiah Macdaniel then had a chance on the hour mark to pull Rieck United back into the match but his effort was punched over the cross bar by an athletic looking Cole. Eytan Halevy, however kept United in with a distant call of winning the cup as he prevented Bragi Vignir’s long distance shot from hitting the back of the net. Sildegapet had an even greater chance on the 77th minute to end any hopes of United making a comeback when Laijtos stole possession off Matthew Greenway, but the resulting break and shot from Maccarron ended up safely in Eytan Halevy’s arms. Bramati had another good chance to make the scoreline 4-0 when he headed wide from six yards as he was left unmarked during a corner. Sildegapet finally made it 4-0 as Vignir showed why he is in the Icelandic National team as he provided a through ball worthy of a Premier League player for Maccarron who duely took his chance to slot home for the fourth goal in the 81st minute. Askar Bakhtavar finally got his name on the score sheet as Laijtos provided yet another through ball that Askar Bakhtavar wasted no time in slotting home to give the Cottagers a 5-0 lead in the Cup tie. Milan Rak provided the last chance in the game for either team in the 93rd minute as his free kick found Maccarron, who flicked it on to Bramati. Unfortunately Bramati was only able to poke his shot onto the cross bar. Lenci Laijtos took home the match ball as Sildegapet once again showed that they were starting to become a potentially massive force in the football world.

After the match Britton told the press that I am very pleased to take away such a lead. We played absolutely fantastically. If we play like that against Team Monty in the Svenska Cupen, we are in a chance with winning. We started well but they held on. We were patient and eventually broke them down as they began to get down. We hope to seal the cup Next week